Ahnapee State Trail - Kewaunee River Bridge (Middle)

Kewaunee, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin

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Name	Ahnapee State Trail - Kewaunee River Bridge (Middle) Green Bay & Western Railroad Bridge #32.0
Built By	Kewaunee, Green Bay & Western Railroad
Currently Owned By	Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources
Superstructure Contractor	Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Substructure Contractor	Unknown
Length	90 Feet Total, 45 Foot Spans
Width	1 Track
Height Above Ground	15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design	Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Design	Concrete
Date Built	1904
Traffic Count	0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Pedestrian Traffic)
Current Status	Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Green Bay & Western Railroad Bridge Number	32.0
Significance	Local Significance
Documentation Date	8/5/2016

In 1890, the Kewaunee, Green Bay & Western Railroad (KGB&W) was incorporated to construct a short extension of the Green Bay, Winona & St. Paul Railroad (GBW&StP) from Green Bay, Wisconsin to Kewaunee, Wisconsin. The line opened in 1891, and in 1892, car ferries were constructed at Kewaunee. Two car ferry routes were used by the railroad, including one to connect with the Ann Arbor Railroad (AA) at Frankfort, Michigan and one to connect to the Pere Marquette Railway (PM) at Ludington, Michigan. The line became a subsidiary of the Green Bay & Western Railroad (GB&W) in 1896. The GB&W was an independent railroad, operating a connection between Lake Michigan and the Mississippi River. The railroad mainly served local traffic through the early 20th Century, and connected with most major railroads operating in Wisconsin.

By the mid-20th Century, the railroad was in decline, and new management took it over and revitalized the railroad into a "bridge line". As part of the revitalization, the car ferries gained importance, as it provided the eastern railroads with a suitable bypass of the congested railroad network in Chicago. The KGB&W would also be merged into the GB&W during the mid-20th Century. As traffic declined in the late 20th Century, the railroad began to fall into disrepair. The car ferries from Kewaunee closed in 1990. The GB&W was purchased by Wisconsin Central, Ltd. (WC) in 1993. The segment between Luxemburg, Wisconsin and Kewaunee was abandoned in 1998, and sold to the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources for trail use. WC was purchased by the Canadian National Railway (CN) in 2001, and became the American subsidiary of CN. In 2021, CN sold the remaining segment between Green Bay and Luxemburg to the Fox Valley & Lake Superior Rail System (FOXY). Today, FOXY continues to operate this segment. The Ahnapee State Trail uses the former railroad between Luxemburg and Kewaunee.

Located along County Road C west of Kewaunee, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Green Bay & Western Railroad Kewaunee Branch over the Kewaunee River. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was first built. Between 1900 and 1910, the KGB&W under the direction of parent GB&W invested significant capital into this line, replacing many of the timber bridges with steel and concrete structures. In 1904, the present bridge was constructed at this location. Currently, the bridge consists of two 45-foot deck plate girder spans, set onto concrete substructures. The superstructure uses a standard design, with heavy girders and an open deck. In addition, the superstructure appears to be continuous with no gap between spans, indicating that the pier was added at a later date. Historic post cards confirm that the bridge was originally constructed as a single 90-foot span, and based on historic aerial photographs, it appears that the pier was likely added in the 1940s. The abutments use a standard design, with sloped wing walls extending diagonally from the bridge. Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company fabricated the superstructure, while unknown contractors completed the substructures. This company fabricated most of the steel spans required by the GB&W. Deck plate girder spans were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen a number of alterations, including the addition of the center pier and an additional H-pile helper bent near the east abutment. Currently, the bridge carries the Ahnapee State Trail, and a deck and handrails have been added to the bridge. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, but is likely adequate for trail use. The addition of a center pier and helper bent indicate that the superstructure likely had strength issues for carrying trains. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Build date	Date stamp
Builder (superstructure)	Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company plaque
Railroad History Citation	ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele