UP MN-93 Bridge

Le Sueur, Le Sueur County, Minnesota

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Overview
North abutment
Looking north
Overview

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Overview
North abutment
Looking north
Overview
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Name UP MN-93 Bridge
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #317
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Substructure Contractor Unknown
Length 36 Feet Total
Width 1 Track, Substructures Built for 3
Height Above Ground 13 Feet 11 Inches
Superstructure Design Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Design Concrete
Date Built 1892, rebuilt 1926
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 317
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 62.24
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 3/31/2018
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. The first 22 miles would be completed between Mendota and Merriam Junction in 1865, followed by 17 more miles to Belle Plaine in 1866, 16 additional miles to Le Sueur in 1867, 12 additional miles to Kasota in 1868, and 22 additional miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 1869. Also in 1869, the Minnesota Valley would complete 5 additional miles from Mendota to St. Paul. In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James would be completed in 1870. The StP&SC completed 58 more miles from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota in 1871; and 64 additional miles to Le Mars, Iowa were completed in 1872. At Le Mars, the route connected to an existing railroad, over which the StP&SC used trackage rights to reach Sioux City.
In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CStPM&O), also known as the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. The C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific in 1995, which still operates the St. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located in Le Sueur, this small deck girder bridge crosses Minnesota Highway 93 (Bridge Street). Originally built in 1892 as a three track span, the bridge originally featured a 36-foot four girder deck plate girder span. In 1926, the bridge would be reconstructed, and the girder set onto concrete abutments. This style of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. The west track would be removed between 1964 and 1980, and the east track removed in 2017. After removal, the steel from the east track was relocated to the small yard at Savage, Minnesota; where it was still sitting as of June 2023. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some deterioration noted throughout the structure. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Builder and build date Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Valuation Engineering Field Notes at the National Archives
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele