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| Name | UP Wahoo Creek Bridge #4 Union Pacific Railroad Bridge #24.70 |
| Built By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | McClintic-Marshall Corporation of Chicago, Illinois |
| Length | 170 Feet Total, 50 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder and Steel Stringer |
| Substructure Design | Concrete Pile |
| Date Built | 1931 |
| Traffic Count | 2 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number | 24.70 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/7/2019 |
Between 1876 and 1877, the Omaha and Republican Valley Railroad (O&RV) constructed a new railroad line between Fremont and Valparaiso, Nebraska. The line would be extended to Lincoln in 1880, and to Beatrice in 1884. The railroad was reorganized as the Omaha and Republican Valley Railway in 1887, which was sold to the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) between 1893 and 1898. UP had constructed and acquired a large amount of lines throughout the western United States, and was best known for completing the First Transcontinental Railroad. This route served as a secondary line for the UP, connecting several branch lines throughout southern Nebraska and Kansas. The route continued to be operated by Union Pacific until 2001, when the segment south of Lincoln was abandoned. This segment has since been turned into the Jamaica North Trail and the Homestead Trail. Union Pacific operates the remaining segment between Lincoln and Fremont as the Lincoln Subdivision.
Located next to County Road 22 east of Weston, this through plate girder bridge is the fourth crossing of Wahoo Creek along this line. The previous bridge at this location was a timber trestle. In 1931, the bridge would be reconstructed with the present structure. Currently, the bridge consists of a single 50-foot through plate girder span, approached by a 30-foot stringer on the east end and three 30-foot stringer spans on the west end. The entire bridge is set onto concrete piers, typical for Union Pacific bridges from this era. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it provided a durable and easy to construct bridge. 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.
Citations
| Builder and build date | McClintic-Marshall Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |