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Abandoned Fivemile Creek Bridge

Abandoned Brick and Stone Arch Bridge over Fivemile Creek
Leavenworth, Leavenworth County, Kansas

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Abandoned Fivemile Creek Bridge
Built By Leavenworth, Northern and Southern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By City of Leavenworth
Length 70 Feet Total, 35 Foot Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet Estimated
Superstructure Type Brick Lined Stone Arch
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1899
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned)
Current Status Abandoned
ATSF Bridge Number 14.22
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date September 2016


This beautiful brick and stone arch crosses Fivemile Creek near Limit Street in Leavenworth.
The bridge is constructed of a two span stone arch. These arches are lined with a red brick, which adds support and strength to the arch.
Built in 1899, the arch was constructed during an period of extensive rebuilding of trestles with arches along the Santa Fe system. The craftsmanship shown in the construction is found on several similar structures throughout Kansas.
The arch remains in great condition. A nearby slab bridge, which crossed Limit Street was removed in 2014; when the road was relocated. This allowed for easier access to the historic arch structure seen here.

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the uncommon design and great historic integrity which the bridge retains.
This structure has a twin, which crosses Ninemile Creek to the south. There may be other similar structures along the line.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway 1984 Bridge Records
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele