State Highway 27 Bridge at the South Llano River
Also known as: Loop 481 Br. at the S. Llano R.; Km0142-16-031
Why it's listed
Carrying Loop 481 across the South Llano River at Junction, this 1,424-foot steel through truss bridge was built in 1936-1937 to replace a narrow, weak truss bridge that a June 1935 flood had damaged. Texas Highway Department engineers abandoned a standard design and developed a continuous Warren truss with a 24-foot roadway and a pedestrian walkway. Local engineers wanted a handsome structure because the city was developing riverfront parkland. One span has a gently bowed top chord that appears to have been included for looks rather than strength. The abutments are unusual, serving only as retaining walls while separate concrete piers hold up the bridge ends. It is the only documented surviving Texas Highway Department bridge with this arrangement. Central Bitulithic Company of Dallas built it with steel fabricated by Bethlehem Steel, at a cost of more than $283,000. It opened to traffic in August 1936 and has seen no major alterations, and it is recognized for engineering significance at the state level.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge embodies the defining characteristics of a Texas Highway Department truss bridge, with a custom continuous design chosen partly for appearance. Its abutment layout is unique: the abutments act only as retaining walls, and it is the only documented surviving Texas Highway Department bridge built this way. It is also the only surviving continuous truss in Texas with a parallel top chord that includes a bowed section.
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 96001124, listed October 10, 1996. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Loop 481, .2 mi. E of 6th St., Junction |
|---|---|
| County | Kimble County |
| Listed | October 10, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001124 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1936-1937 |
| Architect / builder | Bridge Designer: Texas Highway Department; Truss Fabricator: Bethlehem Steel Company of Pottstown, Pennsylvania; Bridge Builder: Central Bitulithic Company of Dallas, Texas |
| Architectural style | Other: continuous through truss bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used for vehicular traffic as Loop 481; no major repairs or alterations have been made and the form reports substantial integrity. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Coordinates | 30.48795, -99.76272 (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 96001124.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001263
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.