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BNSF Black River Bridge

Through Girder Bridge over Black River
Lytles Landing, La Crosse County, Wisconsin

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Black River Bridge
Built By Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 1,505 Feet Total, 95 Foot Largest Span
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Girder, Deck Girder, Concrete Slab
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1917
Traffic Count 40 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 311.42
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date November 2013


This standard through girder bridge crosses the Black River at its confluence with the Mississippi River.
Built in 1917, the bridge consists of three main through girder spans, then six deck girder spans, and 63 concrete slab spans. The entire bridge is set on concrete substructures.
This type of bridge is common along mainlines. Easy to construct and extremely robust, these bridges are good for carrying mainline traffic.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. Significant replacements to the modular concrete slab spans has occurred.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview. The author hopes to get back to this bridge in the near future for better photos.

Black River Railroad Bridges
Upstream Lytle's Landing Trail Bridge
Downstream Confluence With Mississippi River

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date American Bridge Company plaque
Contractor American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele