Name | CN South Franklin Street Bridge (Decatur) Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #A-751.3 |
Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company (Gary Plant) |
Substructure Contractor | Fisher-Stoune, Inc. of Decatur, Illinois |
Length | 128 Feet Total |
Width | 2 Tracks, 1 In Use |
Height Above Ground | 14 Feet 4 Inches |
Superstructure Design | Through Plate Girder |
Substructure Design | Concrete |
Date Built | 1965 |
Traffic Count | 5 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
Current Status | In Use |
Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | A-751.3 |
Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | 751.3 |
Significance | Minimal Significance |
Documentation Date | 10/21/2023 |
In 1851, the State of Illinois authorized the construction of a series of railroad lines, extending from Cairo, Illinois; located on the Ohio River, to the Mississippi River at East Dubuque, Illinois and to Chicago, Illinois. The State awarded the Illinois Central Railroad with the land necessary to construct the new lines. Surveys began in 1851, and the first segments were completed by 1853. From East Dubuque, the railroad would run west through Galena to Freeport; turning south and crossing the Illinois River at La Salle. The railroad then continued through Bloomington, Clinton, Decatur, Pana and Vandalia before reaching Centralia. At Centralia, the railroad met the branch line to Chicago, before continuing south to Cairo. The 341 miles of railroad from East Dubuque to Centralia would be completed in 1855, and the line would be completed to Cairo in 1856, providing the first main lines extending the length of Illinois. The IC continued to build other railroad lines throughout Illinois, mainly stemming from this line. By the 20th Century, the IC was a respected railroad, operating an extensive railroad network through the central United States.
During the late 20th Century, traffic on this line began to disappear. In 1972, the IC merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad (GM&O) to form the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG). After the merger, this line became less important, as the GM&O had other parallel routes which were better built. In 1981, the line would be abandoned between Junction City (Centralia) and Assumption. In 1984, the line would be abandoned between Clinton and Maora, as well as between Heyworth and El Paso. Further portions of the line were abandoned in 1986, when the segment between Freeport and El Paso was abandoned. In 1985, the line from Freeport to East Dubuque was sold to the Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad (CC&P). In 1988, the ICG was reorganized as the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). In 1990, the segment between Decatur and Maora would be abandoned, and in 1993 the segment between Decatur and Assumption was sold to the Decatur Junction Railway (DT). In 1998, IC was purchased by the Canadian National Railway (CN). Today, much of the route is abandoned. CN operates a segment between Clinton and Heyworth and a small section in Decatur. DT continues to operate the line between Decatur and Assumption. In La Salle, a cement plant continues to own a short segment of railroad and the bridge across the Illinois River.
Located on the south side of Decatur, this large through plate girder bridge carries the former Illinois Central Railroad over northbound Business US Route 51 (South Franklin Street). The previous bridge at this location consisted of a two span through plate girder bridge, set onto concrete substructures. During the mid-20th Century, the Illinois Highway Department invested in significant improvements to arterial roadways in Decatur, constructing modern underpasses at several railroad crossings. In 1965, the original bridge would be replaced by the current bridge. The bridge consists of a 128-foot double track through plate girder span, set onto concrete substructures. This span would be constructed at a heavy skew, and the floor constructed of parallel I-beams. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure at the Gary, Indiana plant; while local contractor Fisher-Stoune, Inc. completed the substructures. This type of bridge was popular for large grade separation structures in the second half of the 20th Century, as it was durable and easy to construct. In addition, the use of a large span did not require any piers in the middle of the road. Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being minimally significant, due to the newer age and common design.
Citations
Build date | Illinois Central Gulf Illinois Division 1978 Track Profile |
Builder (superstructure) | Decatur Herald and Review; October 22, 1964 |
Builder (substructure) | The Builder; Volumes 43-44 |
Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |