- 1865: 22 miles completed from Mendota to Merriam Junction, Minnesota by the Minnesota Valley Railway Company
- 1866: 17 miles completed from Merriam Junction to Belle Plaine, Minnesota by the Minnesota Valley Railway Company
- 1867: 16 miles completed from Belle Plaine to Le Sueur, Minnesota by the Minnesota Valley Railway Company
- 1868: 12 miles completed from Le Sueur to Kasota, Minnesota by the Minnesota Valley Railway Company
- 1869: 5 miles completed from Mendota to St. Paul, Minnesota by the Minnesota Valley Railway Company
- 1869: 22 miles completed from Kasota to Lake Crystal, Minnesota by the Minnesota Valley Railway Company
- 1869: 22 miles completed from Lake Crystal to St. James, Minnesota by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
- 1869: 22 miles completed from Lake Crystal to St. James, Minnesota by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
- 1870: Minnesota Valley Railway purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
- 1871: 58 miles completed from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
- 1872: 64 miles completed from Worthington to Le Mars, Iowa by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad
- 1881: StP&SC sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
- 1882: CStPM&O leased by the Chicago & North Western Railway
- 1882: CStPM&O acquired by the Chicago & North Western Railway
- 1995: C&NW purchased by Union Pacific Railroad
- 1995-Present: Union Pacific operates the St. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision
- 1995-Present: Union Pacific operates the St. James to Sioux City segment as the Worthington Subdivision
08/19/21
Located west of Madelia, this small deck girder bridge crosses Spring Creek.
Originally built in 1901 as a single deck girder span, the bridge was modified in the 1970s to include several trestle spans on the east end.
It is unknown why these additional spans were added. One possibility is that the former east abutment was undercut by a flood. Currently, the bridge rests on stone, concrete and timber substructures.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition. The main girder has little deterioration.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.