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UP Bridge #50.92

Stone Arch Bridge over Tributary of Wilson Creek
Wilson, St. Croix County, Wisconsin

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Bridge #50.92
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 15 Feet Total
Width 2 Tracks, 1 In Use
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Stone Arch
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1891, Widened 1912
Traffic Count 15 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
C&NW Bridge Number 355
UP Bridge Number 50.92
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2019


Located in the town of Wilson, this stone arch bridge crosses an unnamed branch of Wilson Creek, north of US-12 and east of 310th Street. It appears that the bridge may usually cross a cattle pass, only crossing water during the melting season or times of heavy rainfall.
Built in 1891 as part of a realignment through the area, the bridge was widened in 1912. The structure consists of a single standard stone arch span, with no unusual features. At some point in the 2000s, a concrete reinforcement was added to the bases of the walls, likely to protect the bridge from scour.
It does appear that a concrete reinforcement was added at approximately where the 1891 and 1912 sections joined. Although the author could not get inside the arch, it appears the two sections may have not stayed pushed together, leading to a gap inside.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no major uncorrected deterioration noted. Some issues of the structure have been corrected, such as the holes in the wall where the two sections join.

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 Reconstruction of route
Widening Date Chicago & North Western Railway Historical Society Archives
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele