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 standard I-Beam bridge is the western crossing of South Dakota Highway 105 in North Sioux City.
Built in 1931, this structure and and its neighbor both consist of the same design, featuring an I-Beam with trestle approaches.
The entire bridge rests on wooden substructures.
Overall, the bridge remains in good condition.
The author has ranked the bridge as being minimally significant, due to the common design and newer age.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge is easily accessed from the road it crosses.