In 1879, the railroad was merged with the Sioux City & Pembina Railway to form the Sioux City and Dakota Railroad, which was in turn controlled by the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railway in 1881.
Known as the Milwaukee Road, construction continued with a line being built from Aberdeen, South Dakota to Ashton, South Dakota the same year.
By 1882, another segment from Mitchell to Letcher was built, as well as a segment from Yankton to Scotland.
The missing segments would be filled in during 1886, including from Ashton to Letcher and Mitchell to Scotland.
The route connected to other Milwaukee Road main lines at Aberdeen and Sioux City, as well as at Elk Point and Mitchell.
While this route crossed some of the best farm land in South Dakota, the Milwaukee Road oftentimes was in financial trouble. This was partially due to an expansion to the Pacific Ocean, completed in approximately 1908.
In 1913, the railroad was renamed the Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railway. This route saw little change until 1980, when a portion from Mitchell to Aberdeen was proposed for abandonment.
The State of South Dakota purchased the route, and granted Burlington Northern operation of the segment. In addition, BN bought the Mitchell-Sioux City segment.
BN would merge with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway to form BNSF Railway in 1996. Since 2005, BNSF has owned and operated the entire Aberdeen-Sioux City segment as the Aberdeen Subdivision.
06/16/22
This bridge is a large Deck Girder bridge over Lake Mitchell on the north side of Mitchell, South Dakota.
Originally built in 1911, this bridge was constructed to cross Firesteel Creek, which was later dammed to create Lake Mitchell. The initial span constructed was large 90-foot deck girder. In 1915, the south pier was rebuilt and by 1919, a 70-foot span would be moved here from the Whetstone River Bridge near Big Stone City, South Dakota. The final north span was added in 1927, and the history is largely unknown.
Constructed of three deck girder spans, the entire bridge is set onto concrete substructures. In addition, the bridge is built with a ballasted deck, common for Milwaukee Road bridges.
Overall, the bridge remains in good conditions.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.