The following year, the route was completed to Austin, Minnesota. By 1870, the route would be absorbed by the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway.
The railroad became a part of the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad. The Milwaukee Road operated a number of lines throughout Southern Minnesota. This route was the main route to Iowa from the Twin Cities.
In 1915, the railroad was reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railway in 1928. This route stayed a secondary mainline until 1985, when the Milwaukee Road was merged with the Soo Line (Canadian Pacific).
Being a secondary route, the route was sold off in the late 1980s or early 1990s. In 1997, it became a part of I&M Rail Link, and later the Iowa, Chicago & Eastern Railroad in 2002. By 2008, the IC&E along with sister Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern became a part of Canadian Pacific Railway.
Currently, a portion of this line from Iowa to Owatonna is operated as CP, while CP owns the line from Owatonna to Faribault.
Progressive Rail leases the line between Eagan and Faribault. Union Pacific operates the route as its Albert Lea Subdivision between Rosemount and Comus. Between Eagan and Mendota, the railroad has been abandoned.
09/20/21
This large pony truss bridge is the sole crossing of the Straight River on this route, a difference from nine structures on a parallel route.
Built in 1929, this large scale bridge replaced a structure of lighter composure. It is likely that this span was relocated to another location.
Currently, the bridge consists of a large 8-panel, riveted Warren Pony Truss. The bridge rests on concrete substructures
This design is common along former Milwaukee Road secondary mainlines. The massive spans were oftentimes built in the late 1920s and early 1930s.
Overall, the bridge remains in good condition.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the newer design.
The photo above is an overview. It can be accessed from a parallel county road.
| Upstream | UP Straight River Bridge #6 |
| Downstream | UP Straight River Bridge #5 |