Yahara River Trail Bridge (South)

Name	Yahara River Trail Bridge (South) Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #C-618
Built By	Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Currently Owned By	City of Madison
Superstructure Contractor	Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Length	75 Feet Total
Width	1 Track
Height Above Ground	10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design	Through 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
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge Number	C-618
Significance	Local Significance
Documentation Date	6/24/2018; 10/22/2023

Between 1855 and 1858, the Watertown and Madison Railroad (W&M) constructed 24 miles of new railroad, extending from Watertown, Wisconsin to Sun Prairie, Wisconsin. The W&M was sold at foreclosure to Russell Sage in October 1858, and the railroad line was sold to the Milwaukee, Watertown and Baraboo Valley Railroad (MW&BV) shortly after. The railroad changed its name to the Milwaukee and Western Railroad (M&W) in 1861, and was sold to the Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (M&StP) in 1863. By the end of 1869, the M&StP would complete an additional 18 miles from Sun Prairie to Madison. In 1874, the M&StP was reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway (Milwaukee Road). This line would serve as a connecting line for the Milwaukee Road, and provided an alternative route between Watertown, Wisconsin and Portage, Wisconsin.

The Milwaukee Road was often in financial trouble, especially after the costly Pacific Extension was completed in 1909. In 1925, the company declared bankruptcy, and reorganized as the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad in 1928. Throughout the 20th Century, the railroad often was in debt. The railroad again entered bankruptcy in 1977. By 1985, a suitor for the Milwaukee Road was being sought, and the Soo Line Railroad, controlled by Canadian Pacific Railway (CP) purchased the Milwaukee Road in 1986. Because the line was excess, it was leased to the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (WSOR) in 1998, and WSOR acquired the line in 2003. Since being acquired by WSOR, the line has seen numerous upgrades. WSOR continues to operate the line as the Watertown Subdivision.

Located near Williamson Street in Madison, this through plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) line over the Yahara River. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle bridge, constructed when the line was first built. In 1904, the bridge would be replaced by the present through plate girder bridge. Currently, the bridge consists of a 75-foot through plate girder span, set onto concrete substructures. The superstructure uses a somewhat unusual design for the Milwaukee Road, with heavy girders, rounded girder ends and a unique ballast deck floor. The floor is composed of numerous I-beams placed between the girders, and does not use a typical floorbeam and stringer design. These I-beams are covered by a sheet metal deck. This type of floor became popular for grade separations in Chicago and other major cities, but was not commonly used for waterway crossings. Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company fabricated the superstructure, while laborers employed by the Milwaukee Road Bridge & Building Department constructed the abutments. Through plate girder spans were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen no significant alterations. The bridge has since had a concrete deck added to the structure, and now carries the Capital City Trail. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Builder and build date	Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company plaque
Railroad History Citation	ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele

Yahara River Trail Bridge (South)

Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin