Green Bridge, Christian County, Missouri

by Joshua Heston

Built in 1912 by the Canton Bridge Company of Canton, Ohio, old Green Bridge still spans the Finley River on Smyrna Road.

Rolling farmland and high bluffs mark this portion of the river. Historic bridges are becoming increasingly hard to find throughout these old. It often proves cheaper to tear down the old bridges and build new concrete structures sadly devoid of personality.

Named for the family farm beyond the river and not the color of the bridge, Green Bridge has served Christian County residents for 99 years. Foot traffic, horse traffic, buggy traffic, mule traffic and — now — SUV traffic, Green Bridge was rehabilitated in 2004.

Recent inspections have rated Green Bridge deck conditions as good and superstructure condition as satisfactory, granting the community this piece of history for — hopefully — many more years.

Beautiful old Green Bridge spanning the Finley River. A piece of Ozark history.

January 21, 2012

All photo credits: J. Heston. All Plates, Green Bridge, Christian County, Missouri (3/1/09).) State of the Ozarks © Archive. March 1, 2009