On the quiet track of a retired railroad bed, the Blue River Rail Trail winds north along the Big Blue River offering tranquil views of covered bridges, limestone cliffs, wooded areas, the river and more. The trail attracts dog walkers, photographers, bird watchers and people that simply want a breath of clean country air. 

The trail starts in historical Marysville, Kansas with a Pony Express monument honoring the town’s station on the original route of the early mail service. The trail stretches north to the Nebraska border where it links up with the Chief Standing Bear Trail. Keep traveling north on the same former rail corridor to Beatrice, where the Homestead Trail begins; but the chain of trails doesn’t stop there, as you can continue all the way to Lincoln, NE by hopping on the Jamaica North Trail in Saltillo.

For the small town of Marysville, this trail offers a great recreational opportunity for residents; however, it wasn’t until recently that the final piece connecting Marysville to the additional 70+ miles of trails was complete. Local business owner, Don Landoll of Landoll Corporation, has witnessed the enjoyment & importance this trail brings to Marysville. He saw the opportunity to contribute and support his community through the design, fabrication and installation of a bridge that would connect the Blue River Trail from Lincoln, NE to the old UP Railroad Depot in Marysville. 

Don Landoll’s company focuses on manufacturing farm equipment, trailers, forklifts, etc. Due to this experience, he is no stranger to various types of metal substrates and how they hold up in varying environments. He wanted to build a bridge that would stand the test of time so future generations can continue to enjoy the trail for years to come. So, he specified a steel bridge with wood decking.

Growing up on a family farm in Kansas, Mr. Landoll learned about the strength of hot-dip galvanizing from his family’s long-lasting galvanized windmills. As an adult, he applied this knowledge of galvanizing to his Landoll trailers. This previous experience gave Mr. Landoll the confidence that galvanizing would be the best option for the bridge to ensure it’s longevity with minimal maintenance.

Hot-dip galvanizing complimented the overall design goals for the bridge. It added strength to an already robust design, a pleasing aesthetic to emphasize the beauty surrounding it and over all functionality for processing, installation and use. The bridge would require little to no maintenance eliminating unforeseen future costs. Fortunately, due to his previous experience, Mr. Landoll understood the importance of designing the bridge for the galvanizing process including size restrictions and vent/drain holes. Through working with the galvanizer, he was able to fabricate the steel bridge in a single section while still allowing the zinc to flow through all parts of the bridge. Then, the entire piece was galvanized in just one dip due to the very large zinc kettle at the galvanizer’s facility. The process of dipping the entire bridge was an impressive sight but more importantly, the quality of the finish came out beautifully and the galvanizer was confident Mr. Landoll and the town of Marysville would be proud of the final product.

Mr. Landoll was very passionate about this charitable project due to the impact it would have on both Marysville and the surrounding communities. As the final piece of the puzzle to tie Marysville to the greater trail system, the bridge has been very well received by individuals of all ages but the impact will last well in to the future. Due to the careful planning and dedication to a great product capable of withstanding the elements over time, this bridge will be standing strong for future generations of bike riders, hikers, and nature enthusiasts to enjoy.