UP Picha Creek Bridge

Merriam Junction, Scott County, Minnesota

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Overview
Overview
Bearing block
Looking south

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Overview
Overview
Bearing block
Looking south
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Name UP Picha Creek Bridge
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #173
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Length 30 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1899
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status Open to Traffic
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 173
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 34.52
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 10/9/2011
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. The first 22 miles would be completed between Mendota and Merriam Junction in 1865, followed by 17 more miles to Belle Plaine in 1866, 16 additional miles to Le Sueur in 1867, 12 additional miles to Kasota in 1868, and 22 additional miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 1869. Also in 1869, the Minnesota Valley would complete 5 additional miles from Mendota to St. Paul. In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James would be completed in 1870. The StP&SC completed 58 more miles from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota in 1871; and 64 additional miles to Le Mars, Iowa were completed in 1872. At Le Mars, the route connected to an existing railroad, over which the StP&SC used trackage rights to reach Sioux City.
In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CStPM&O), also known as the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. The C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific in 1995, which still operates the St. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located near Merriam Junction, this small deck plate girder bridge crosses Picha Creek. Built in 1899, the bridge consists of a single 30-foot standard deck plate girder span, set onto stone abutments. Often, railroads would standardize bridge spans to enable faster and more efficient construction. Numerous examples of this design were constructed for the Omaha Road, as it was durable and easy to construct. 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 Lassig Bridge & Iron Works plaque
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele