BNSF Redwood River Bridge #8

Located in Marshall, this steel stringer bridge carries a former Great Northern Railway mainline over the Redwood River Diversion Channel near College Drive. Prior to the 1960s, the Redwood River ran through the heart of Marshall, and the town was prone to flooding. In June 1957, a major flood stuck Marshall after several weeks of heavy rainfall. In response, it was decided to construct a diversion channel, rerouting the majority of the river around the west side of the city. Contracts for the project were awarded in mid-1962. As part of the project, three new railroad bridges were required, including two new structures along the GN mainline and one along the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) branch line to South Dakota. Construction began in the summer of 1962, and was completed ahead of schedule the following year. Currently, the bridge consists of four 40-foot steel stringer spans, constructed at a heavy skew and set onto concrete substructures. The superstructure follows a standard design, using six shallow beams per span and an integral ballast deck. The substructures also follow a standard design, with rectangular piers and standard U-shaped abutments. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while Kraus-Anderson Construction Company constructed the substructures. Steel stringer spans were popular for railroad use, due to the durability and ease of construction. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen no significant alterations, and remains in regular use. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being minimally significant, due to the common design and newer age.