Coal Creek Bridge was erected in 1927– A time when other bridges it’s size were already being built of reinforced cement, spanning under the road, the way the ancient Romans did.
Many steel bridges were mass produced and and assembled all over Oklahoma from 1919 to about 1930 and riveted together on site–a labor intensive Eiffel Tower type of construction.
Step up to the bridge and it seems to envelope you in its geometric arms.
Ironically this bridge seems to take you somewhere only while you are standing on it.
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To drive the point home, the rust seems to further dignify it.
The bridge, damaged by a truck in 2009 was replaced by reinforced cement in 2012, and named after WW2 hero Joe Tannehill. The new bridge may have taken away it’s day to day usefulness, but left us an oxidizing work of the Engineering art.– Riveted links to another time.
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Sources:
http://okbridges.wkinsler.com/builders/oklahoma.html
http://www.okladot.state.ok.us/hqdiv/p-r-div/spansoftime/shiftingdir.htm
mcalester matters 
You’re a pretty fantastic photographer. Love the angles and close ups in this article.
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