Grand Glaize Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Grand Glaize Bridge are two girder bridge
s on U.S. Route 54
over the Grand Glaize Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks
between Osage Beach, Missouri
and Laguna Beach, Missouri in Camden County, Missouri
.
The bridge on official maps is called the Grandglaize (one word) as is the body of water it crosses to differentiate it from an entirely different Grand Glaize Creek that is a tributary to the Meramec River in St. Louis County, Missouri
. However in widespread usage it is referred to as two words.
The original two-lane Grand Glaize Bridge was built in 1931 during the construction of Bagnell Dam
and Lake of the Ozarks. It was a Warren truss
or deck truss structure with the trusses built under the deck so traffic could see the lake. Its unusual design prompted it to be called the "upside down bridge." Other bridges built across the lake at the time including the Hurricane Deck Bridge
over the Osage Arm
and the Niangua Bridge
over the Niangua Arm
were also deck truss structures. The only non-deck truss bridge on the lake was the Niangua Arm US 54 Bridge
. The bridge was known for its very narrow lanes and no shoulder.
The new parallel girder bridge carrying east bound traffic was completed in 1984. A new eastbound girder bridge was built in 1995 and the original bridge was torn down. The Niangua Bridge has also been torn down leaving the Hurricane Deck Bridge as the only remaining deck truss bridge.
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
s on U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54
U.S. Route 54 is an east–west United States highway that runs northeast-southwest for 1,197 miles from western Illinois to El Paso, Texas. It enters and leaves Texas twice...
over the Grand Glaize Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks
The Lake of the Ozarks is a large reservoir created by impounding the Osage River in the northern part of the Ozarks in central Missouri. Extents of three smaller tributaries to the Osage, the Niangua River, Grandglaize Creek, and Gravois Creek, are included in the impoundment...
between Osage Beach, Missouri
Osage Beach, Missouri
Osage Beach is a city in Camden and Miller counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 3,662 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Osage Beach is located at ....
and Laguna Beach, Missouri in Camden County, Missouri
Camden County, Missouri
Camden County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2000, the population was 37,051. Its county seat is Camdenton. The county was organized in 1841 as Kinderhook County and renamed in 1843, for Charles Pratt, 1st Earl Camden, Chancellor of England, and leader of the Whig...
.
The bridge on official maps is called the Grandglaize (one word) as is the body of water it crosses to differentiate it from an entirely different Grand Glaize Creek that is a tributary to the Meramec River in St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County, Missouri
St. Louis County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. Its county seat is Clayton. St. Louis County is part of the St. Louis Metro Area wherein the independent City of St. Louis and its suburbs in St. Louis County, as well as the surrounding counties in both Missouri and Illinois all...
. However in widespread usage it is referred to as two words.
The original two-lane Grand Glaize Bridge was built in 1931 during the construction of Bagnell Dam
Bagnell Dam
Bagnell Dam impounds the Osage River in the U.S. state of Missouri, creating the Lake of the Ozarks. The 148-foot tall concrete gravity dam was built by the Union Electric Company for the purpose of hydroelectric power generation as its Osage Powerplant. It is long, including a long spillway...
and Lake of the Ozarks. It was a Warren truss
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
or deck truss structure with the trusses built under the deck so traffic could see the lake. Its unusual design prompted it to be called the "upside down bridge." Other bridges built across the lake at the time including the Hurricane Deck Bridge
Hurricane Deck Bridge
Hurricane Deck Bridge is a truss arch bridge located on Lake of the Ozarks in Camden County, Missouri. It carries Missouri Route 5 across the Osage Arm of the lake. It is perhaps one of the most distinctive features on the lake. It is the only truss-type bridge remaining on the lake...
over the Osage Arm
Osage River
The Osage River is a tributary of the Missouri River in central Missouri in the United States. The Osage River is one of the larger rivers in Missouri. The river drains a mostly rural area of . The watershed includes an area of east-central Kansas and a large portion of west-central and central...
and the Niangua Bridge
Niangua Bridge
The Niangua Bridge is a truss arch bridge located on Lake of the Ozarks in Camden County, Missouri. It carries Route 5 and Route 7 across the Niangua Arm. The construction was similar to the Hurricane Deck Bridge and the I-35W Bridge....
over the Niangua Arm
Niangua River
The Niangua River is a tributary of the Osage River in the Ozarks region of southern and central Missouri in the United States. Via the Osage and Missouri rivers it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River.-Course:...
were also deck truss structures. The only non-deck truss bridge on the lake was the Niangua Arm US 54 Bridge
Niangua Arm US 54 Bridge
The Niangua Arm US 54 Bridge was a truss-type bridge located on the Niangua Arm of the Lake of the Ozarks in Camden County, Missouri. It was the first bridge to span the completed Lake of the Ozarks. The bridge was similar to the Grand Glaize Bridge except that the steel framework was located on...
. The bridge was known for its very narrow lanes and no shoulder.
The new parallel girder bridge carrying east bound traffic was completed in 1984. A new eastbound girder bridge was built in 1995 and the original bridge was torn down. The Niangua Bridge has also been torn down leaving the Hurricane Deck Bridge as the only remaining deck truss bridge.