This highly significant through truss bridge crosses Cedar Creek in Cedarburg, Wisconsin.
TBuilt at this location in 1907, the bridge was reportedly built at an unknown location in Michigan in 1850, for the Michigan Central Railroad.
Despite this claim, the author believes it is more likely that this is a late 1880s/early 1890s type structure.
A number of these truss bridges were purchased by the Milwaukee Northern Railway; for approximately $5,000. These trusses were dispersed throughout the system between Milwaukee and Port Washington.
Unfortunately, all of these other trusses except this structure were demolished in approximately 1948.
What remains is this historic structure; crossing Cedar Creek. The bridge features an 8-panel Pratt Through Truss with pinned connections.
The bridge rests on concrete substructures; and has been heavily refurbished. It opened to pedestrians in 2002 after years of sitting in disuse.
Because of the reported age of the truss, it is likely one of the oldest remaining railroad trusses in the United States. Due to this, the author has ranked this bridge as being nationally significant. However, the author believes that this bridge is closer to an 1890 build date.
The bridge has been ranked as regionally significant, due to the excellent preservation of a truss bridge that was spared demolition. Fortunately, this bridge has been well preserved by the Village of Cedarburg and Ozaukee County, also playing into the rating.
The photo above is an overview.