Cotter Bridge: Difference between revisions

Cotter Bridge
Cotter Bridge
	Cotter Bridge, 1988
Coordinates	36°16′2″N 92°32′39″W / 36.26722°N 92.54417°W
Carries	US 62B
Crosses	White River
Locale	Cotter, Arkansas
Official name	R. M. Ruthven Bridge
Maintained by	Arkansas State Highway and Transportation Department
ID number	AHTD 00702
Characteristics
Design	Marsh Reinforced concrete Arch
Total length	1,850 ft (560 m)
Width	2 lanes, 24 ft (7.3 m)
Longest span	216 ft (66 m)
Clearance above	25 ft (7.6 m)
Clearance below	78 ft (24 m)
History
Constructed by	Bateman Contracting Company
Construction cost	$390,729.82
Opened	1930
Location

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The Cotter Bridge, also known as the R. M. Ruthven Bridge and the White River Concrete Arch Bridge, carries U.S. Route 62 Business across the White River west of the city of Cotter in Baxter County, Arkansas. Upon completion, the bridge opened a part of the Ozarks previously inaccessible to motorists. Constructed in 1930, it is the only bridge built by the Marsh Engineering Company of Des Moines, Iowa, in the state of Arkansas.

Getting a bridge in Cotter

Cotter was established in 1905 as a railroad town. The area used a ferry system to cross the vast White River, with the nearest road crossing being 100 miles (160 km) north in Branson, Missouri. The river would rise and fall very quickly, which caused the ferry to be very unreliable. Baxter County residents wanted a bridge, but were opposed to the use of toll to pay for it.^[1]^: 6 Once it became apparent that the federal road U.S. Route 62 would replace Arkansas Highway 12 through the area, bridge interest reached a peak. The federal road would bring an economic boom to the tourist-themed Ozarks that had not been developed, but the funding was still not available due to Arkansas' lack of a central road authority.^[1]^: 7 The state approved the use of toll bridges in 1927, as long as they became free upon payment of the debt.^[1]^: 8 Judge R. M. Ruthven concealed a damning feasibility report from the Highway Commission, which would have resulted in the bridge being built elsewhere.^[1]^: 9 Twenty years later, he allegedly mailed the report to the Commission anyway.^[1]^: 9 President Calvin Coolidge signed the bridge into construction on May 2, 1928, and upon approval by the War Department, the bridge was contracted to James Barney Marsh.^[1]^: 10

Construction and opening of the Cotter Bridge

The bridge was contracted to a company from Nashville, Tennessee, in 1929, and they used as much local labor as possible. A cable system was used to avoid problems with the mercurial river. The company installed lights and worked around the clock in order to prevent delays.^[1]^: 15 The bridge was dedicated on November 11, 1930, but for months the residents of Cotter continued to use the free ferry system rather than pay the toll.^[1]^: 19 The Highway Department even had to threaten the community with retracted funding unless the residents began using the bridge.

Today

The Cotter Bridge was once proposed to be replaced, but area residents protested, and instead a new bridge was built north of the area. U.S. Route 62 now runs on the new bridge, where the former alignment of US 62 exists today as U.S. Route 62 Business through downtown Cotter. The bridge was designated as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers in 1986; it was Arkansas' first National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.^[1]^: 1^[2] In 1990, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places (ID 90000518).

Sources

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Bennett, Lola; Smith, Corinne (1988). "Cotter Bridge (R. M. Ruthven Bridge)" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
^ "R.M. Ruthven Bridge named Civil Engineering Landmark". Baxter Bulletin. Mountain Home, Arkansas. October 7, 1986. p. 3.

External links

Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. AR-15, "Cotter Bridge, Spanning White River at U.S. Highway 62, Cotter, Baxter County, AR", 19 photos, 49 data pages, 2 photo caption pages
Cotter, Arkansas Rainbow Arch Bridge
Cotter Bridge photos
Tiger Map

[HAER-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Bennett, Lola; Smith, Corinne (1988). "Cotter Bridge (R. M. Ruthven Bridge)" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved November 20, 2021.

[2] "R.M. Ruthven Bridge named Civil Engineering Landmark". Baxter Bulletin. Mountain Home, Arkansas. October 7, 1986. p. 3.

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-{{Infobox Bridge
+{{Infobox bridge
 |bridge_name= Cotter Bridge
 |image= Cotter Bridge Spanning White River closeup.jpg
 |caption= Cotter Bridge, 1988
-|official_name= R.M. Ruthven Bridge
+|official_name= R. M. Ruthven Bridge
-|carries= {{jct|state=AR|US-Bus|62|dab1=Cotter}}
+|carries= {{jct|state=AR|US|62B|dab1=Cotter}}
 |crosses= [[White River (Arkansas)|White River]]
 |locale= [[Cotter, Arkansas|Cotter]], [[Arkansas]]
@@ Line 11: / Line 11: @@
 |builder = Bateman Contracting Company
 |design= [[James Barney Marsh|Marsh]] [[Reinforced concrete]] [[Arch]]
+|mainspan= {{convert|216|ft|m|abbr=on}}<ref name=HAER/>
-|mainspan=
-|length= 1850 ft
+|length= {{convert|1850|ft|m|abbr=on}}
-|width= 2 lanes, 24 ft
+|width= 2 lanes, {{cvt|24|ft}}
-|clearance= 25 ft
+|clearance= {{cvt|25|ft}}
-|below= 78 ft
+|below= {{cvt|78|ft}}
 |traffic=
+|cost= $390,729.82<ref name=HAER>{{Cite web |url=https://tile.loc.gov/storage-services/master/pnp/habshaer/ar/ar0000/ar0073/data/ar0073data.pdf |title=Cotter Bridge (R. M. Ruthven Bridge) |last=Bennett |first=Lola |last2=Smith |first2=Corinne |date=1988 |work=[[Historic American Engineering Record]] |publisher=Library of Congress |location=Washington, D.C. |access-date=November 20, 2021}}</ref>{{rp|12}}
 |open= 1930
 |closed=
@@ Line 23: / Line 24: @@
 |map_text=
 |map_width=
-|coordinates= {{coord|36|16|2|N|92|32|39|W|type:landmark}}
+|coordinates= {{coord|36|16|2|N|92|32|39|W|display=inline,title}}
-|lat= 36.267264
-|long= -92.544169
 }}
-The '''Cotter Bridge''', also known as the '''R.M. Ruthven Bridge''' and the '''White River Concrete Arch Bridge''', carries the [[Bannered routes of U.S. Route 62#Cotter business loop|business route of U.S. Route 62]] across the [[White River (Arkansas)|White River]] west of the city of [[Cotter, Arkansas|Cotter]] in [[Baxter County, Arkansas|Baxter County]], [[Arkansas]], [[USA]]. Upon completion, the bridge allowed access to a part of [[The Ozarks]] previously undiscovered by motorists. Constructed in 1930, it is the only bridge built by the [[Marsh Engineering Company]] of [[Des Moines, Iowa]] in the state of Arkansas.
+The '''Cotter Bridge''', also known as the '''R. M. Ruthven Bridge''' and the '''White River Concrete Arch Bridge''', carries [[U.S. Route 62 Business (Cotter, Arkansas)|U.S. Route 62 Business]] across the [[White River (Arkansas)|White River]] west of the city of [[Cotter, Arkansas|Cotter]] in [[Baxter County, Arkansas|Baxter County]], [[Arkansas]]. Upon completion, the bridge opened a part of the [[Ozarks]] previously inaccessible to motorists. Constructed in 1930, it is the only bridge built by the [[Marsh Engineering Company]] of [[Des Moines, Iowa]], in the state of Arkansas.
 ==Getting a bridge in Cotter==
-Cotter was established in 1905 as a railroad town. The area used a ferry system to cross the vast White River, with the nearest road crossing being {{convert|100|mi|km}} north in [[Branson, Missouri]]. The river would rise and fall very quickly, which caused the ferry to be very unreliable. [[Baxter County, Arkansas|Baxter County]] residents wanted a bridge, but were opposed to the use of toll to pay for it.<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Page 6. Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref> Once it became apparent that the federal road [[U.S. Route 62]] would replace [[Arkansas Highway 12]] through the area, bridge interest reached a peak. The federal road would bring an economic boom to the tourist-themed Ozarks that had not been developed, but the funding was still not available due to Arkansas' lack of a central road authority.<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Page 7. Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref> The state approved the use of toll bridges in 1927, as long as they became free upon payment of the debt.<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Page 8. Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref> Judge R.M. Ruthven concealed a damning feasibility report from the Highway Commission, which would've resulted in the bridge being built elsewhere.<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Page 9. Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref> Twenty years later, he allegedly mailed the report to the Commission anyway.<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Page 9. Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref> President [[Calvin Coolidge]] signed the bridge into construction on May 2, 1928, and upon approval by the War Department, the bridge was contracted to [[James Barney Marsh]].<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Page 10. Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref>
+Cotter was established in 1905 as a railroad town. The area used a ferry system to cross the vast White River, with the nearest road crossing being {{convert|100|mi|km}} north in [[Branson, Missouri]]. The river would rise and fall very quickly, which caused the ferry to be very unreliable. [[Baxter County, Arkansas|Baxter County]] residents wanted a bridge, but were opposed to the use of toll to pay for it.<ref name="HAER"/>{{rp|6}} Once it became apparent that the federal road [[U.S. Route 62]] would replace [[Arkansas Highway 12]] through the area, bridge interest reached a peak. The federal road would bring an economic boom to the tourist-themed Ozarks that had not been developed, but the funding was still not available due to Arkansas' lack of a central road authority.<ref name="HAER"/>{{rp|7}} The state approved the use of toll bridges in 1927, as long as they became free upon payment of the debt.<ref name="HAER"/>{{rp|8}} Judge R. M. Ruthven concealed a damning feasibility report from the Highway Commission, which would have resulted in the bridge being built elsewhere.<ref name="HAER"/>{{rp|9}} Twenty years later, he allegedly mailed the report to the Commission anyway.<ref name="HAER"/>{{rp|9}} President [[Calvin Coolidge]] signed the bridge into construction on May 2, 1928, and upon approval by the War Department, the bridge was contracted to [[James Barney Marsh]].<ref name="HAER"/>{{rp|10}}
 [[File:Cotter Bridge Spanning White River wide.jpg|thumb|left|Wide angle view of bridge and its surroundings.]]
 ==Construction and opening of the Cotter Bridge==
-The bridge was contracted to a company from [[Nashville, Tennessee]] in 1929, and they used as much local labor as possible. A cable system was used to avoid problems with the mercurial river. The company installed lights, and worked around the clock in order to prevent delays.<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Page 15. Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref> The bridge was dedicated on November 11, 1930, but for months the residents of Cotter continued to use the free ferry system rather than pay the toll.<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Page 19. Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref> The Highway Department even had to threaten the community with retracted funding unless the residents began using the bridge.<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Page 19. Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref>
+The bridge was contracted to a company from [[Nashville, Tennessee]], in 1929, and they used as much local labor as possible. A cable system was used to avoid problems with the mercurial river. The company installed lights and worked around the clock in order to prevent delays.<ref name="HAER"/>{{rp|15}} The bridge was dedicated on November 11, 1930, but for months the residents of Cotter continued to use the free ferry system rather than pay the toll.<ref name="HAER"/>{{rp|19}} The Highway Department even had to threaten the community with retracted funding unless the residents began using the bridge.
 ==Today==
-The Cotter Bridge was once proposed to be replaced, but area residents protested, and instead a new bridge was built north of the area. U.S. Route 62 now runs on the new bridge, where the former alignment of US 62 exists today as [[Bannered routes of U.S. Route 62#Cotter business loop|U.S. Route 62 Business]] through downtown Cotter. It was Arkansas' first [[National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark]].<ref>Bennett, Lola and Smith, Corinne. "Historic American Engineering Record Cotter Bridge (R.M. Ruthven Bridge)." 1988. [http://www.arkansashighways.com/historic_bridge/HAER%20Documents/AR-15%20Cotter%20Bridge%20(00702).pdf History.] Retrieved August 20, 2010.</ref> In 1990, it was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] as structure #90000518.
+The Cotter Bridge was once proposed to be replaced, but area residents protested, and instead a new bridge was built north of the area. U.S. Route 62 now runs on the new bridge, where the former alignment of US 62 exists today as [[U.S. Route 62 Business (Cotter, Arkansas)|U.S. Route 62 Business]] through downtown Cotter. The bridge was designated as a [[National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark]] by the [[American Society of Civil Engineers]] in 1986; it was Arkansas' first National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.<ref name="HAER"/>{{rp|1}}<ref>{{cite news |author=<!--Staff writer(s)/no by-line.--> |date=October 7, 1986 |title=R.M. Ruthven Bridge named Civil Engineering Landmark |work=Baxter Bulletin |location=Mountain Home, Arkansas |page=3}}</ref> In 1990, it was added to the [[National Register of Historic Places]] (ID 90000518).
 ==See also==
+*{{Portal-inline|Transport}}
-*[[Reinforced concrete]]
+*{{Portal-inline|Engineering}}
-*[[Arch]]
+*{{Portal-inline|United States}}
+*{{Portal-inline|National Register of Historic Places}}
+*[[List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Arkansas]]
+*[[List of bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Arkansas]]
+*[[National Register of Historic Places listings in Baxter County, Arkansas]]
 ==Sources==
 {{Reflist}}
-*[http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/hhh.ar0073 HAER Record AR0073 HAER Item: Cotter Bridge]- Structure number 90000518
 ==External links==
+{{Commons category|Cotter Bridge}}
-*[http://www.cotterarkansas.com/bridge.htm Cotter, Arkansas Rainbow Arch Bridge]
+*{{HAER |survey=AR-15 |id=ar0073 |title=Cotter Bridge, Spanning White River at U.S. Highway 62, Cotter, Baxter County, AR |photos=19 |data=49 |cap=2}}
-*[http://bridges.midwestplaces.com/ar/baxter/cotter/ Cotter Bridge photos]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20051227184321/https://www.cotterarkansas.com/bridge.htm Cotter, Arkansas Rainbow Arch Bridge]
-*[http://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapsurfer?infact=2&outfact=2&act=move&on=CITIES&on=GRID&on=counties&on=places&on=interstate&on=ushwy&on=water&tlevel=-&tvar=-&tmeth=i&mlat=36.267255&mlon=-92.544169&msym=cross&mlabel=Cotter_Bridge&murl=&lat=36.26725&lon=-92.54417&wid=2.000&ht=2.000&conf=mapnew.con Tiger Map]
+*[https://bridges.midwestplaces.com/ar/baxter/cotter/ Cotter Bridge photos]
+*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070311051051/https://tiger.census.gov/cgi-bin/mapsurfer?infact=2&outfact=2&act=move&on=CITIES&on=GRID&on=counties&on=places&on=interstate&on=ushwy&on=water&tlevel=-&tvar=-&tmeth=i&mlat=36.267255&mlon=-92.544169&msym=cross&mlabel=Cotter_Bridge&murl=&lat=36.26725&lon=-92.54417&wid=2.000&ht=2.000&conf=mapnew.con Tiger Map]
-{{Registered Historic Places}}
+{{National Register of Historic Places}}
 [[Category:Bridges completed in 1930]]
-[[Category:Through arch bridges]]
+[[Category:Through arch bridges in the United States]]
-[[Category:Bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Arkansas]]
+[[Category:Road bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in Arkansas]]
 [[Category:Historic Civil Engineering Landmarks]]
-[[Category:Concrete bridges]]
 [[Category:Transportation in Baxter County, Arkansas]]
-[[Category:Buildings and structures in Baxter County, Arkansas]]
-[[Category:Road bridges in Arkansas]]
 [[Category:U.S. Route 62]]
-[[Category:Bridges on the U.S. Highway System]]
+[[Category:Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System]]
+[[Category:Former toll bridges in Arkansas]]
+[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Baxter County, Arkansas]]
+[[Category:Concrete bridges in the United States]]
+[[Category:Tied arch bridges in the United States]]
+[[Category:Historic American Engineering Record in Arkansas]]
+[[Category:1930 establishments in Arkansas]]

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