State Highway 3-A Bridge at Plum Creek
Also known as: US90--US 183 Bridge at Plum Cr. (eastbound lanes); Cw0029-03-
Why it's listed
Spanning Plum Creek southeast of Luling, this steel Parker through truss bridge and its 38 concrete girder approach spans stretch about 1,205 feet and still carry eastbound traffic on US 90/US 183. Built between 1930 and 1931 by contractor Grant Williams for the Texas Highway Department, it used a standard truss design fabricated by the Virginia Bridge and Iron Company. The design, known as T22-120, relied on horizontal bracing across the central panels to prevent buckling of tall vertical members. This bridge is the only surviving example of that first version; later versions eliminated the bracing. It was listed for its engineering significance as a representative of a short-lived solution to a design problem. Changes include shortened approach railing in 1952, a companion westbound bridge in 1956, and new deck stringers in 1990. These alterations were judged minor, leaving the original structure and appearance largely intact.
Significance in brief: The bridge embodies the defining characteristics of a Texas Highway Department truss bridge, meeting Criterion C in Engineering at a state level. It is the only surviving example of the first version of the THD T22-120 standard design, which used horizontal bracing to prevent buckling of tall vertical members. Its integrity is retained despite a 1952 railing shortening and a 1990 deck upgrade.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 96001107, listed October 10, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | US 90--US 183, .5 mi. W of jct. with I-10, Luling |
|---|---|
| County | Caldwell County |
| Listed | October 10, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001107 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1930-1931 |
| Architect / builder | Bridge Designer: Texas Highway Department; Truss Fabricator: Virginia Bridge & Iron Company of Roanoke, Virginia; Bridge Builder: Grant Williams of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Architectural style | Other: Parker through truss bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use carrying two eastbound lanes of US 90/US 183; a companion bridge for westbound traffic was added in 1956. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.65553, -97.60100 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 96001107.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000929
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.