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UP Funk Road Bridge

Concrete Arch Bridge over Funk Road and Oconomowoc River
North Lake, Waukesha County, Wisconsin

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Name UP Funk Road Bridge
Built By Milwaukee, Sparta & North Western Railway
Contractor John Marsh Co. of Chicago
Contractor Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 111 Feet Total, 30 Foot Arches
Width 2 Tracks, 1 In Use
Height Above Ground 30 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Concrete Arch
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1912, Rehabilitated 1945
Traffic Count 15 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
UP Bridge Number 298.31
Significance Moderate Significance


This massive concrete arch bridge crosses Funk Road (now Kilbourne Road) and the Oconomowoc River near North Lake, Wisconsin.
The bridge features three massive concrete arches, each that are 30 feet long. The endwalls of this structure are massively abutted concrete structures.
The bridge has been rebuilt twice since its original construction. In 1928, pipe railings were added to the bridge. In 1945, an extensive overhaul of the bridge obliterated the build date; and strengthened the bridge.
These type of triple concrete arches were built in a number of places by the Milwaukee, Sparta & North Western. These include two crossings of the Menominee River near Milwaukee, and at Beaver Dam.
The 1945 rebuild added some concrete shoring to the bridge. In addition, the bridge was originally double track. The second track was removed in 1959.

Because of the massive size of the bridge; the author has ranked it moderately significant, despite the common design.
The photo above is an overview of the structure.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Based on build date of line
Contractor Bridgehunter.com
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele