Milwaukee, the largest city in Wisconsin, was a major interchange point and terminal for number of railroads. Historically, several companies operated in the city, including the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road), the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW), the Chicago, North Shore & Milwaukee Railroad (CNS&M) and The Milwaukee Electric Railway and Light Company (TMERL). While many of the railroad lines have been abandoned today, Milwaukee remains a critical freight terminal for CPKC, Union Pacific Railroad and the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad.

NEIGHBORHOODS

Random Bridges

C&NW Milwaukee River Bridge

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C&NW Milwaukee River Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1556)

This iconic quadrangular lattice through truss swing bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway mainline over the Milwaukee River near Erie Street in Milwaukee

Downtown, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: City of Milwaukee

Status: Abandoned, East Approach Reused as Pedestrian Walkway

Built 1915 and c. 1935

by

American Bridge Company of New York; Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois and Unknown

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
242' quadrangular lattice through truss swing span and 7-23' steel stringers

Description:
Quadrangular lattice through truss swing bridge over Milwaukee River

Significance:

Regional

Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1599

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Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1599

(Schlitz Brewery Ice House Tunnel)

This large stone arch bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway mainline over an unnamed ditch at the end of Hampshire Street in Milwaukee

East Side, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: Milwaukee County

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1892

by

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
15' stone arch

Description:
Stone arch bridge over unnamed ditch

Significance:

Local

CPKC Greenfield Avenue Bridge (Milwaukee)

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CPKC Greenfield Avenue Bridge (Milwaukee)

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #A-314 5/8)

This concrete slab bridge carries the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) over Greenfield Avenue on the south side of Milwaukee

South Side, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited

Status: In Use

Built 1915

by

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
2-22' and 2-11' concrete slabs

Description:
Concrete slab bridge over Greenfield Avenue

Significance:

Local

CPKC Kinnickinnic Avenue Bridge (South)

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CPKC Kinnickinnic Avenue Bridge (South)

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #A-328)

This through plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) spur over Kinnickinnic Avenue (Wisconsin Highway 32) in Milwaukee

South Side, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited

Status: In Use

Built 1910

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
1-45', 2-11' through plate girders and timber pile trestle

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Kinnickinnic Avenue (Wisconsin Highway 32)

Significance:

Local

CPKC Kinnickinnic River Bridge

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CPKC Kinnickinnic River Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #A-314)

This unique counterbalanced Warren through truss swing bridge carries the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad mainline over the Kinnickinnic River alongside Kinnickinnic Avenue in Milwaukee

South Side, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited

Status: In Use

Built 1908

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
196' counterbalanced Warren through truss swing bridge and 60' deck plate girder

Description:
Counterbalanced Warren through truss swing bridge over Kinnickinnic River

Significance:

High

CPKC Menomomee River Swing Bridge

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CPKC Menomomee River Swing Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #A-316 1/2)

This unique counterbalanced Warren through truss swing bridge carries the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad mainline over the Menomonee River alongside Plankinton Avenue in downtown Milwaukee

Downtown, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited

Status: In Use

Built 1904

by

American Bridge Company of New York (Lassig Plant)

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
203' counterbalanced Warren through truss swing bridge and 40' deck plate girder

Description:
Counterbalanced Warren through truss swing bridge over Menomonee River

Significance:

High

CPKC Washington Street Bridge (Milwaukee)

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CPKC Washington Street Bridge (Milwaukee)

(Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway Bridge #A-314 3/4)

This concrete slab bridge carries the former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) and Chicago & North Western Railway over Washington Street on the south side of Milwaukee

South Side, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited/Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1915

by

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway and Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-25' and 2-16' concrete slabs

Description:
Concrete slab bridge over Washington Street

Significance:

Local

Graceland Railroad Crossing

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Graceland Railroad Crossing

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2407)

This quadrangular lattice through truss bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway over the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (Former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad) on the northwest side of Milwaukee

Northwest Side, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1911

by

Pennsylvania Steel Company of Steelton, Pennsylvania and Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Milwaukee, Sparta & North Western Railway

Design:
170' quadrangular lattice through truss

Description:
Quadrangular lattice through truss bridge over Wisconsin & Southern Railroad (Former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad)

Significance:

Moderate

Oak Leaf Trail - Milwaukee River Bridge

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Oak Leaf Trail - Milwaukee River Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1609)

This through plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway mainline over the Milwaukee River on the north side of Milwaukee

North Side, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: Milwaukee County

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1911

by

Cambria Steel Company of Johnstown, Pennsylvania and Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
3-80' through plate girders

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Milwaukee River

Significance:

Local

Oak Leaf Trail - Milwaukee River Parkway Bridge

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Oak Leaf Trail - Milwaukee River Parkway Bridge

(Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #1609 1/2)

This concrete encased beam bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway mainline over Milwaukee River Parkway on the north side of Milwaukee

North Side, Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Owner: Milwaukee County

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1950

by

Unknown

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
2-33' concrete encased beams

Description:
Concrete encased beam bridge over Milwaukee River Parkway

Significance:

Minimal