Washington Avenue Bridge
Why it's listed
Spanning the Brazos River north of downtown Waco, this steel truss bridge opened to traffic on June 30, 1902, connecting Washington Avenue on the west bank with Elm Avenue on the east. It was the second permanent vehicular crossing of the river in the city, following the 1870 Waco Suspension Bridge. The main span measures 450 feet, and the total length is 557 feet. Because of that span, designers chose a Pennsylvania truss with a bowed top chord. J. H. Sparks of St. Joseph, Missouri, won the contract at $93,300, and McLennan County and the City of Waco shared the cost. The bridge was the longest single-span truss bridge in the Southwest when built and is described as the longest and oldest single-span vehicular truss bridge still in use in the United States. Its truss members, piers and pin connections are original, while the deck, railings and guardrails have been altered. It still carries traffic today and is listed for its engineering significance.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the bridge is significant under Criterion C in the area of Engineering at the local level. It was the longest single-span truss bridge in the Southwest when built, and it is described as the longest and oldest single-span vehicular truss bridge still in use in the United States. It retains a high percentage of original material and integrity.
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 98000143, listed February 20, 1998. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Washington and wlm Aves. across Brazos River, Waxo |
|---|---|
| County | McLennan County |
| Listed | February 20, 1998 |
| Reference number | 98000143 |
| Resource type | Structure |
| Period of significance | 1902 |
| Architect / builder | Engineer unknown/J. H. Sparks |
| Architectural style | Other: Pennsylvania through-truss |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Industry |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in use as a road bridge; described as in excellent condition with high integrity, though a 1996 inspection rated it in fair condition with corrosion and cracked pin nuts, and a load limit applies. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Waco Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.56116, -97.12876 (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 98000143.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7971675
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.