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DM&E Rush Creek Bridge

Lost Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Rush Creek and Route H
Liberty, Clay County, Missouri

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name DM&E Rush Creek Bridge
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Canadian Pacific Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 570 Feet Total, 75 Foot Main Spans
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 50 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder and Concrete Beam
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1931
Date Replaced 2019
Traffic Count 25 Train/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use, Partially Replaced
UP Bridge Number 488.00
MILW Bridge Number I-852
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date November 2019


View an article regarding the construction of this route.

Authors Note: This bridge was replaced in late 2019. The photos above show replacement halfway complete..

Located in Liberty, this massive deck girder once crosses Rush Creek and Route H.
Originally built in 1931, the bridge consisted of six identical deck girder spans, set onto massive concrete substructures. In addition, the bridge is approached by two spans of concrete beams.
The line here was built in 1931 when the Rock Island built a new line and the Milwaukee Road relocated their line. Union Pacific and Canadian Pacific currently share this line, although CP (DM&E) maintains the line.
Unfortunately, the bridge was significantly replaced in late 2019. It is unknown why, although it is likely that the steel spans were degraded. The approaches were retained with the new bridge.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Construction of line
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele