CPKC Lincoln Avenue Bridge (Milwaukee)

Located on the south side of Milwaukee, this concrete slab bridge carries the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) mainline over Lincoln Avenue Avenue. In the early 20th Century, the City of Milwaukee ordered grade separations at many of the busy railroad lines throughout the City. Inspired by track elevation projects in Chicago, early ordinances were passed for both track elevation and depression in approximately 1904, and the ordinances later expanded to include several other lines throughout the City. In approximately 1908, an ordinance was passed requiring the elevation of the Milwaukee Road mainline from downtown Milwaukee to a point south of the Kinnickinnic River. The first portion of this elevation came between 1909 and 1910, when the mainline line was elevated between south of Lincoln Avenue and north of Kinnickinnic Avenue. In 1910, a new subway was constructed to carry the Milwaukee Road tracks over Lincoln Avenue and an electric railroad track.

Currently, the bridge consists of two 24-foot concrete slab spans over the roadway, two 10-foot concrete slab spans over the adjacent sidewalks and a 22-foot concrete slab span on the north end to cross the former electric railway. The bridge is set onto concrete abutments and piers. The superstructure uses a standard design, with the concrete slab spans featuring a decorative paneling, typical of slab spans in the early 20th Century. The substructures also use a standard design, with the piers composed of concrete columns connected by concrete arches, typical of grade separation structures constructed in the first half of the 20th Century. Milwaukee Road Bridge & Building Department labor constructed the bridge, typical of concrete construction along the Milwaukee Road in the early 20th Century. Concrete slab spans became popular for grade separations after 1910, as they were durable, easy to construct and minimized hazards to the public below. While the bridge was initially constructed for three tracks, all three remain in use. Overall, the the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The west face has seen minor alterations, including concrete repairs to some spans. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.