The railroad was graded in 1888, however wouldn't build the line until 1904, when the Sioux Falls to Colton portion was built.
In 1905, they extended to Rutland, and by 1907 reached Watertown.
The railroad was absorbed by the Great Northern Railway in 1922.
The line became part of Burlington Northern in a 1970 merger which involved rival Northern Pacific.
By 1972, BN abandoned from Watertown to Hayti, and abandoned from Wentworth to Hayti in 1980.
The BN became a part of the BNSF Railway in 1996, following a merger with the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway.
The line currently connects to a spur in Wentworth, and is known as the Madison Subdivision.
08/28/21
While it may not be the most unique bridge in the area, this massive bridge crosses a local landmark.
Crossing above Sioux Falls, the bridge features 8 through girder spans and a number of I-Beam spans.
Originally, the bridge consisted of three Howe Truss spans. However, these were replaced in 1902.
In 1947, a series of eight secondhand I-Beams were relocated from an unknown location. These took the place of a large wooden trestle.
It is presently unknown where the eight I-Beams would be relocated from, or when they were originally constructed.
The entire bridge rests on concrete substructures. The bridge is one of the more iconic structures in Sioux Falls.
Overall, the bridge remains in good condition. It's immediate future is clouded, due to plans to relocate freight routes away from the town center.
Historic photo of the previous bridge
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the newer age and common design.
The photo above is an overview of the bridge. It can easily be accessed from the surrounding park.
| Upstream | IC Big Sioux River Bridge |
| Downstream | BNSF Big Sioux River Bridge/td> |