Near Smartsville in Nevada County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
The Yuba River Bridge at Parks Bar
1913 - 1994
William M. Thomas of Thomas and Post Consulting Engineers designed the 685-foot-long Parks Bar Bridge in 1912 for Yuba County. The original 16-foot-wide bridge with four 140-foot-long arch spans was constructed by the Portland Concrete Pile Company in 1912-13. The bridge was widened to 22 feet in 1924. It was removed in 1994 after a new bridge was built downstream.
William Thomas established himself as a leader in early reinforced concrete bridge design by developing the "Thomas System." This system consisted of precast construction, three-hinge arches and open spandrels. Each arch had three flexible connections: one on each base and one joining the arch halves in the middle. Open spandrels (triangular spaces between the arches and the deek) added to the beauty of the bridge.
Over time, the river bed lowered and eroded the bridge's base. Undermining of the footings hastened replacement of this impressive early example of the "Thomas System."
This bridge was determined eligible for the National Register of Historic Places in 1984
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Bridges & Viaducts. A significant historical year for this entry is 1912.
Location. 39° 13.17′ N, 121° 20.005′ W. Marker is near Smartsville, California, in Nevada County. Marker is on Timbuctoo Road south of California Highway 20. Timbuctoo Road is the access road to the river. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Smartsville CA 95977, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Sucker Flat (approx. 1.9 miles away); Church of the Immaculate Conception (approx. 2.1 miles away); Smartville / Smartsville (approx. 2.1 miles away); Smartsville Grocery (approx. 2.1 miles away); Edward James McGanney (approx. 2.1 miles away); Mooney Flat Hotel (approx. 3.2 miles away); Hammon Grove (approx. 3.6 miles away); Browns Valley: 1850 – 1860 (approx. 4.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Smartsville.
Also see . . . Parks Bar Bridge, Spanning Yuba River at State Highway 20, Smartville, Yuba County, CA. Library of Congress website entry:
Information regarding the bridge along with numerous photos of its construction and completion. (Submitted on April 8, 2012.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2022. It was originally submitted on April 8, 2012, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona. This page has been viewed 1,106 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. submitted on April 8, 2012, by Syd Whittle of Mesa, Arizona.