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BNSF 15th Street Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over SE 15th Street
Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF 15th Street Bridge
Built By Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 56 Feet Total, 40 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 14 Feet 3 Inches
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder and Steel Stringer
Substructure Type Concrete and Steel Tower
Date Built 1929
Traffic Count 8 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 51.7
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date December 2019
In 1869, the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway built a line from Topeka, Kansas to Burligame, Kansas. The following year, the line would be extended to Emporia.
This line served as a mainline, connecting the heavily used mainline at Emporia to the significant terminal of Topeka. The line saw little changes over the years.
In 1996, the ATSF merged with Burlington Northern to form BNSF Railway, the current operators of this line. It is now the southern leg of the Topeka Subdivision.
06/26/21


Located on the south side of Topeka, this small girder bridge crosses SE 15th Street.
Built in 1929, the bridge consists of a single ballast deck through plate girder span, approached by a steel stringer span on either side. The bridge sits on concrete abutments and steel tower piers.
It appears much of the line between 15th Street and 37th Street was rebuilt during 1929. It is unknown if this was a grade separation project, or just a rebuilding.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deteriorations or alterations noted.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele



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