State Highway 27 Bridge at Johnson Fork
Also known as: I-10 Bridge at Johnson Fork; Km0142-01-035
Why it's listed
Spanning Johnson Fork near Segovia in Kimble County, this 666-foot steel bridge combines two 120-foot Parker through truss spans with eight steel I-beam approach spans, all carried on concrete piers and abutments. The Texas Highway Department designed it, Mosher Steel Company fabricated the steel, and Word & Worrell of San Antonio built it between July 1937 and April 1938 as part of a seven-mile realignment of State Highway 27 between Junction and Segovia. The project cost nearly $128,000, with about $62,000 coming from federal funds. The truss spans follow the department's T24-120 standard design, one of 25 Parker truss designs, and this bridge is one of only two surviving examples of the design's later version. Its mix of pier types is also unusual. When Interstate 10 was built in 1967-1969, new concrete bridges took the main traffic lanes, and the older truss remained in use on the northbound frontage road, preserving it in place.
Significance in brief: The bridge embodies the defining characteristics of a Texas Highway Department truss bridge, meeting Criterion C in Engineering at the state level. It uses the T24-120 standard design, one of 25 Parker through truss designs, and is one of only two surviving examples of the design's second version. Its combination of pier types is also unique.
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 96001113, listed October 10, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | I-10, .6 mi. W of jct. with FM 2169, Junction |
|---|---|
| County | Kimble County |
| Listed | October 10, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001113 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1937-1938 |
| Architect / builder | Bridge Designer: Texas Highway Department; Truss Fabricator: Mosher Steel Company of Houston, Texas; Bridge Builder: Word & Worrell of San Antonio, Texas |
| Architectural style | Other: Parker through truss bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Remains in place serving vehicular traffic as the northbound I-10 frontage road; no major alterations since new main-lane bridges were built in 1967-1969. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.42588, -99.67904 (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 96001113.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001261
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.