State Highway 3 Bridge at the Trinity River
Also known as: US 90 Bridge at the Trinity River; Lb0028-03-022
Why it's listed
Carrying eastbound US 90 over the Trinity River just west of Liberty, this 1,463-foot bridge combines three 150-foot steel Parker through truss spans with 30 concrete and steel approach spans. The Austin Bridge Company built it between 1929 and 1930 for the Texas Highway Department, replacing an unsafe 1914 truss bridge that had been the site of several serious accidents. The truss spans follow the department's T24-150 standard design. This bridge is the only surviving example of the design's earlier 1928 version, and it is considered the best of three surviving examples. It is also the longest Parker truss bridge remaining from 1930 or earlier, and the only extant highway truss bridge with shortened concrete paneled entrance railing. The railings were cut down in 1948 as a safety measure. A companion bridge added in 1959-1962 now handles westbound traffic, which allowed the original truss to remain in service.
Significance in brief: The bridge is significant under Criterion C in the area of Engineering at the state level for embodying the defining characteristics of a Texas Highway Department truss bridge. It is the only surviving example of the earlier version of the T24-150 standard truss design and is judged the best of the three surviving examples. At 1,463 feet it is the longest surviving Parker truss bridge from 1930 or earlier.
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 96001114, 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, 1.3 mi. W of jct. with FM 2684, Liberty |
|---|---|
| County | Liberty County |
| Listed | October 10, 1996 |
| Reference number | 96001114 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1929-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Bridge Designer: Texas Highway Department; Truss Fabricator: Virginia Bridge & Iron Company of Roanoke, Virginia; Bridge Builder: Austin Bridge Company of Dallas, Texas |
| Architectural style | Other: Parker through truss bridge |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Engineering |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in place carrying eastbound vehicular traffic on US 90; a companion bridge built 1959-1962 carries westbound lanes, and the truss bridge is planned to be kept for pedestrian and/or bicycle use. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.05779, -94.81935 (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 96001114.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001114
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.