The Teilman Bridge is a semi-abandoned structure over Fresno Slough west of Burrell siding near the intersection of Elkhorn Avenue and Elkhorn Grade. This structure is the only known Concrete Pony Truss Bridge constructed in California and was designed by Ingvart Teilman. Teilman's Bridge would open in late 1915 when the Elkhorn Grade was the primary road between Fresno and Coalinga. The structure would be replaced in 1991 but was left standing as it carries pipelines over Fresno Slough.
Part 1; the history of the Teilman Bridge
In the early Twentieth Century the most direct highway between Fresno and Coalinga followed the Elkhorn Grade. The Elkhorn Grade began at Fresno Slough a short distance west of Burrell siding. From Fresno Slough the Elkhorn Grade followed a generally southwestern course through San Joaquin Valley into the Kettleman Hills towards Coalinga.
The Elkhorn Grade can be seen on the 1914 C.F. Weber map of Fresno County. The roadway can be seen originating at the Fresno Slough Bridge at Township 7 South, Range 18 East.
The Elkhorn Grade can be seen on the same map continuing southwest from Fresno Slough near the now ghost town of Wheatfield to Coalinga. The Elkhorn Grade from what is now Five Points southwest to Coalinga still exists in modern times as parts of California State Routes 145, 33 and 198.
A 1915 Fresno Morning Republican article (courtesy Kurt Smith) announced a new bridge would be constructed on the Elkhorn Grade at Fish Slough (now Fresno Slough). The Concrete Pony Truss structure was designed by Ingvart Tellman as a replacement for an existing wooden span. The Fresno County Supervisors released bids for construction of the Teilman Bridge on August 4, 1915.
The Teilman Bridge would ultimately open as a then new span over Fresno Slough at the intersection of the Elkhorn Grade and Elkhorn Avenue during late 1915. The 200-foot structure is the only known example of a Concrete Pony Truss to be constructed in California.
The then new Teilman Bridge can be seen below as it was featured in an early 1916 Fresno Morning Republican article (courtesy Kurt Smith).
The Elkhorn Grade would be later be bisected between Wheatfield and Five Points. This negated much of the usefulness of the Teilman Bridge as it was relegated to mostly funneling traffic on Elkhorn Avenue (then Dodge Avenue) between California State Route 41 (on Elm Avenue by 1934) and Fresno-Coalinga Road. The Teilman Bridge and bisected Elkhorn Grade can be seen on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Fresno County.
The Teilman Bridge was replaced by a new bridge in 1991 but was not removed from Fresno Slough. The structure was kept in place as it carries pipelines across Fresno Slough. The Teilman Bridge can be seen in a 1995 drawing by Doug Hansen (courtesy Kurt Smith).
Part 2; a visit to the Teilman Bridge
During 2018 Gribblenation's Tom visited the Teilman Bridge. The structure is commonly known in modern times simply as the "Elkhorn Avenue Bridge." Despite the historic nature and uniqueness of the span it doesn't have any placards. Workers can on occasion be seen conducting maintenance work to the pipelines affixed to the structure.
The Old Elkhorn Avenue Bridge can be walked across but there isn't a plaque or indicator to tell travelers any details about the bridge.
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