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BNSF 411th Avenue Bridge

Concrete Slab Bridge over 411th Avenue
East of Groton, Brown County, South Dakota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF 411th Avenue Bridge
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 25 Feet Total
Width 2 Tracks, 1 In Use
Height Above Ground 12 Feet 6 Inches
Superstructure Type Concrete Slab
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1913
Traffic Count 6 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
MILW Bridge Number O-400
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2019


Located east of Groton, this simple concrete slab span crosses 411th Avenue south of the intersection with US-12.
Built in 1913 during a line change and double tracking project, the bridge features a single concrete slab span. The bridge is strictly functional, with no decorative features.
This type of span is a simple design, commonly used along this line and others in the Milwaukee Road system due to the cheap and efficient construction.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition. It appears a large wooden beam was added to the bridge at some point, possibly due to a failing headwall. There is also cracking, exposed rebar and spalling throughout the structure.
Typically, a large beam like this can stabilize concrete components of the bridge and buy it more time. It is unknown how severe the defects with this bridge are, due to the beam covering them.
When the author visited this bridge, it was right after a major snowstorm. Evidence of this can be seen in the above photos. The snowdrifts around this bridge were impressive.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design and old age.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Reconstruction of route
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele