logo

BNSF Bridge #23.17

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Unnamed Inlet to Lake Ardoch
North of Ardoch, Grand Forks County, North Dakota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Bridge #23.17
Built By Great Northern Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 171 Feet Total, 65 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder, Steel Stringer and Concrete Beam
Substructure Type Steel Pile
Date Fabricated 1902
Date Erected Ca. 1940; Rebuilt 2008 and 2018
Original Location Unknown
Traffic Count 2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 23.17
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date August 2020


Located along US Highway 81 south of Ardoch, this deck girder bridge crosses one of several unnamed inlets to Lake Ardoch.
While a plaque on the main span indicates it was built 1902, there is no record of it existing at this location in 1918. No records have currently been found when it was moved here, although further research is being conducted.
The Great Northern often moved spans around to save costs. It appears that both the girder and the steel stringer span may have been moved here.
Currently, the bridge consists of this deck girder span, with a steel stringer span on the south side and a number of concrete modular spans on each side.
Originally built with timber substructures and trestle approaches, the south approach was rebuilt in 2008, while the north approach was rebuilt in 2018. The entire bridge currently sits on steel substructures.
This style bridge was commonly used to replace older trestles, as girder bridges such as this were easy to construct and maintain.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no major deterioration noted.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

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