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CN Trappe River Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Trappe River
North of Brokaw, Marathon County, Wisconsin

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name CN Trappe River Bridge
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul & Pacific Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Canadian National Railway
Length 245 Feet Total, 65 Foot Longest Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Water 15 Feet Estimated
Superstructure Type Through Girder and Trestle
Substructure Type Timber Pile
Superstructure Type Through Girder and Trestle
Date Fabricated (Main Spans) Ca. 1900
Original Location (Main Spans) Unknown
Date Erected Ca. 1920
Traffic Count 3 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
MILW Bridge Number G-356
Significance Moderate Significance


This two span Through Girder with Trestle approaches crosses the Trappe River at its confluence with the Wisconsin River, several miles south of Merrill.
The spans are different. While the southern span is a little lighter, the northern span is slightly heavier built.
This difference in spans indicates that these spans were at another location before here. It is unknown exactly where this could've been, as spans like this were common around the Milwaukee Road system.
Judging by the design of these two spans, it is likely that they came from single span structures. The rounded edge style girders were typically fabricated between 1900 and 1910, and were used for single span structures.
While Milwaukee Road Archives research indicates a 1913 date on this bridge (6 years old in 1919), a valuation map from 1919 indicates that this structure was a wooden trestle.
The approaches on either side of the main spans are timber trestles, and the substructures are also wooden.
Overall, the bridge seems to retain good historic integrity, however it does appear to be in a deteriorated condition.

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the common design but history of relocation.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be accessed from Wisconsin River Road.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Estimated based on similar spans
Original Location Information unknown
Erection Date Estimated based on historic aerial imagery
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele