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BNSF Bridge #8.31

Steel Stringer Bridge over Unnamed Swamp
East of Emerado, Grand Forks County, North Dakota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Bridge #8.31
Built By Great Northern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 40 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Steel Stringer
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1909
Traffic Count 10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 8.31
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date August 2020


Located east of Emerado near the ghost station of Ojata, this steel stringer bridge crosses a small swamp along County Road 4.
Built in 1909, the bridge features a single steel stringer span, set onto concrete substructures. This span follows a standard design for the Great Northern. It is unknown if the superstructure was later replaced, as there is no further records after 1909.
This style bridge was commonly used to cross rivers, streams and roads because of the cheap cost, easy installation and limited maintenance required. A span like this could often be built while only interrupting traffic for short times.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in excellent condition, with no major deterioration noted.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Great Northern Railroad Bridge Records at the Minnesota Historical Society
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele