Matthiessen State Park Bridge 3
NBI Information
Location
State: Illinois
County: La Salle County
Feature Carried: Pedestrian Path
Feature Crossed: Deer Creek Gorge
Latitude, Longitude: 41.2939,-89.0285
Structure Open, Posted, or Closed to Traffic: Open to Pedestrians
History
Year Built: 1905
Picture Date: September 8, 2025
Geometry
Lanes on Structure: 1
Lanes under Structure: 0
Number of Main Spans: 1
Main Structure Type: Arch - Deck
Main Structure Material: Concrete
Condition
Bridge is not on the National Bridge Inventory
Bridge Information
Matthiessen State Park features several graceful concrete arched bridges that connect trails through its canyons. The property was originally owned by Frederick William Matthiessen, who built some of the structures. The land was donated to the state upon his death in 1918 and was turned into the State Park.
This particular bridge was built in 1905, making it an early surviving example of a concrete arch bridge in Illinois. Concrete was still fairly new to bridge building in the early 1900’s, leading the engineer (Joseph Strauss) to patent a new variation on the typical concrete arch bridge. This design was a closed spandrel ribbed arch bridge, which features two ribs with articulated floor beams between them. This bridge is one of only two known bridges to use this design, with the other being an abandoned rail bridge. Unfortunately, the bridge has not been well maintained and shows significant deterioration.
References
