Name | CPKC Zumbro River Bridge (Rochester) Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #M-126 |
Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
Currently Owned By | Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited |
Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
Length | 223 Feet Total, 74 Foot Spans |
Width | 1 Track |
Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
Substructure Design | Stone Masonry and Concrete |
Date Built | 1919 |
Traffic Count | 5 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
Current Status | In Use |
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | M-126 |
Significance | Local Significance |
Documentation Date | 8/12/2015 |
Located along Silver Lake Drive in Rochester, this deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over the Zumbro River. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber truss bridge, constructed when the line was first built. In 1883, the bridge would be replaced with two 112-foot skewed quadrangular lattice through trusses, set onto a stone pier and east abutment. The bridge originally used a timber pile trestle approach on the west end until 1893, when it was filled and a stone abutment constructed. By the 20th Century, the previous bridge had become too light for traffic, and a new bridge would be constructed in 1919. The old trusses would be reused at Wausau, Wisconsin. The present bridge consists of three 74-foot 4-inch deck plate girder spans, set onto concrete piers and stone abutments. The abutments were heavily modified at the time of construction. American Bridge Company fabricated the superstructure, while unknown contractors constructed the substructures. Deck plate girder spans were commonly used by railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. Both abutments have been reinforced with sheet metal and concrete encasement. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
Builder and build date | American Bridge Company plaque |
Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |