Oriana Bridge

The one-lane riveted steel Oriana Bridge crosses the Salt Fork of the Brazos River with a camelback through truss and three Warren pony trusses totaling about 390 feet in length. The combination of multiple spans, required by the wide stream beds and extreme fluctuation in water levels of Texas rivers, as well as the placement of the east anchorage about halfway up an 100-foot-high eroded cliff, creates a dramatic setting.

The approximately 78'-long, 8'-high, five-panel pony trusses have a single set of verticals.The top chords are 9 I-beams with a plate riveted to the underside of the web between panel points U3 and U7.^ Both diagonals and verticals are a little larger than 9 channels; many are embossed LACKAWANNA on their webs. The inclined end post at the southwest comer of the western most pony truss is, however, embossed PHCENIX. Two 5 angles are used for the lower chord. Several are embossed ILLINOIS G. Steel rods 7/8 in diameter are used for the lower lateral cross-bracing. The deck beams are 12 I-beams which support timber stringers and planking. The clear roadway is about 14'-6 over the bridge's entire length.

The camelback truss is approximately 156'-0 long, with a maximum height of 25'-0. The top chords are fabricated of 9 charmels, 12-wide plate, and lacing bars. Vertical compression members are laced 6 1/8 channels. Most diagonals are two 3 angles except those cormecting Ul to L3 and U7 to L6, which are 3 1/2 angles. The top lateral bracing is crossed steel rods. Laced angles are used for both the portal and the sway bracing. Two 5 x 3 1/2 angles comprise the lower chord. The lower lateral bracing has crossed 1 1/8 rods and the deck beams are 15 I-beams embossed CARNEGIE USA.

Four concrete piers support the spans. The original arrangement of the east abutment of the camelback is obscured because it, as is the entire connection at LO, is encased in the concrete of a recent repair. The river piers are a dumb-bell shape that would become standard Texas Highway Commission practice. One of the pier caps, between the westernmost pony trusses, is wrapped in a metal collar.