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Second Hannibal Bridge

BNSF Railway bridgesBridges completed in 1917Bridges in Kansas City, MissouriBridges over the Missouri RiverBuildings and structures in Clay County, Missouri
Chicago, Burlington and Quincy RailroadMidwestern United States bridge (structure) stubsMissouri building and structure stubsMissouri transportation stubsRailroad bridges in MissouriRoad-rail bridges in the United StatesRoad bridges in Missouri
Hannibal bridge1
Hannibal bridge1

The Second Hannibal Bridge is a rail bridge over the Missouri River in Kansas City, Missouri, connecting Jackson County, Missouri, with Clay County, Missouri. Opened in 1917, the bridge replaced the original Hannibal Bridge which crossed the river about 200 feet (61 m) downstream on the northern bank, but at virtually the same location on the southern bank. There are two decks on the bridge: the lower deck carried the railroad and the upper was for vehicular traffic. After the Buck O'Neil Bridge opened in 1956, vehicular traffic was switched over to the new span and the auto deck was removed later that year. The bridge is owned and maintained by the BNSF Railway and carries two tracks. A bridge tender at the bridge can open and close the drawspan as well as operate the nearby ASB Bridge, which is also owned by BNSF. The Hannibal Bridge survived the 1951 Kansas City flood after being hit by four river boats that tore loose from the mouth of the Kansas River, forcing the swinging span open.

Excerpt from the Wikipedia article Second Hannibal Bridge (License: CC BY-SA 3.0, Authors, Images).

Second Hannibal Bridge
John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil Memorial Bridge, Downtown Kansas City

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Geographical coordinates (GPS)

Latitude Longitude
N 39.112672 ° E -94.58864 °
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Buck O'Neil Bridge

John Jordan "Buck" O'Neil Memorial Bridge
64105 Downtown Kansas City
Missouri, United States
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Hannibal bridge1
Hannibal bridge1
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Hannibal Bridge
Hannibal Bridge

The First Hannibal Bridge was the first permanent rail crossing of the Missouri River and helped establish Kansas City, Missouri, as a major city and rail center. The increased train traffic resulting from its construction also contributed to the building of Union Depot, the predecessor to the Kansas City Union Station.Construction started in 1867, shortly after the end of the American Civil War, and was completed in 1869. The completion of the bridge came after a short battle between Leavenworth, Kansas, and the town of Kansas City for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad bridge. After construction was completed, the population of Kansas City began to grow. The bridge was designed by Octave Chanute, who also designed the Kansas City Stockyards and was later a pioneer in aviation. After hearing of the proposed bridge at Kansas City, Joseph Tomlinson contacted Chanute and they corresponded on how best to cross the Missouri River. In October 1867, Chanute hired Tomlinson as the superintendent of superstructure. George S. Morison, who would become a leading bridge designer in North America, apprenticed under the supervision of Tomlinson and Chanute during the construction of the bridge. It was a swing bridge that could open in under two minutes, and had an arched truss design. The bridge cost $1 million to build. The bridge was built for the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad by the Keystone Bridge Company. Although the railroad became part of the BNSF Railway, the name "Hannibal" has stuck. In 1886, the bridge was severely damaged by a tornado that collapsed a middle span. It was reconstructed and its truss structure was altered from an arch design to a traditional truss design. It was later replaced by the Second Hannibal Bridge 200 feet (61 m) upstream on the northern bank, but at the same location on the southern bank where it enters into the gooseneck cut into the bluff.