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The 1912-era Shaffer Bridge of Oakdale Road

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The Shaffer Bridge is a historic Pratt truss span located at the Merced River along a former alignment of Oakdale Road.  This structure was opened to traffic in 1912 near Basel siding when Oakdale Road was a frontage facility of the Montpelier-Oakdale Railroad.  Said railroad would close in 1942 and would be used to straighten Oakdale. 

The Shaffer Bridge was found by Caltrans to be eligible for the National Register of Historical Places in 1985.  The span would be converted to pedestrian usage in 2003 following the opening of the bridge which currently carries Oakdale Road over the Merced River. 




Part 1; the history of the Shaffer Bridge

The Shaffer Bridge is located on a realigned segment of Oakdale Road at the Merced River.  The structure is located at once was Basel siding of the Montpelier-Oakdale Railroad.  Said line was constructed by the Southern Pacific Railroad as an east side Central Valley Branch and opened in 1890.  

The Montpelier-Oakdale Railroad originated in Stockton and terminated in Merced.  Basel siding was popular with residents out of Merced due to recreational opportunities being available at the Merced River.  

During 1910 Merced County would contract master bridge builder Judson Manufacturing to construct a Pratt truss bridge at the Merced River near Basel siding.  The then new roadway (now Oakdale Road) was to run alongside the Montpelier-Oakdale Railroad which would enhance the corridor for use by the emerging automobile market.  Judson Manufacturing would complete said span during 1912 and name it the Shaffer Bridge.  

The Shaffer Bridge can be seen on the 1917 United States Geological Survey map of Winton at the Merced River west of Arundel siding.  Traffic can be seen having to make a ninety degree turn to cross the Montpelier-Oakdale Railroad at-grade immediately west of the span. 


The Shaffer Bridge can be seen as a component of Oakdale Road near Basel Siding on the 1935 Division of Highways map of Merced County.  The Montpelier-Oakdale Railroad would shutter during 1942 and the grade would be repurposed to straighten Oakdale Road.  

The Shaffer Bridge would become eligible for the National Register of Historical Places in 1985.  The finding was made by Caltrans which noted the structure to be one of the most prominent remaining examples of a metal truss highway bridge left in California. 

During 2003 Merced County would close the Shaffer Bridge to automotive traffic following the opening a new span a short distance up the Merced River.  The Shaffer Bridge was converted as a pedestrian usage and was affixed with signage which noted it be a historic structure.  The Shaffer Bridge was reaffirmed to be eligible for the National Register of Historical Places in 2004.  


Part 2; a visit to the Shaffer Bridge

The Shaffer Bridge is located along Oakdale Road at the Merced River a short distance west of Shaffer Road.  A small dirt pullout accesses the eastern approach to the structure.  




These views are from crossing the Shaffer Bridge in a westward direction.  The structure is 151.9 feet in length.  









The Shaffer Bridge from the Merced River. 



Heading eastbound over the Shaffer Bridge.





Facing west towards the 2003-era structure which replaced the Shaffer Bridge. 

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