logo

BNSF Salt Creek Bridge (Ashland, North)

Pratt Through Truss over Salt Creek
Ashland, Saunders County, Nebraska

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Salt Creek Bridge (Ashland, North)
Built By Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Contractor (Approach) American Bridge Company
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 460 Feet Total, 107 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Pratt Through Truss, I-Beam and Trestle
Substructure Type Timber and Steel Pile
Date Built Ca. 1920, Approaches Rebuilt 1952
Date Replaced 2018
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge has been replaced)
Current Status Replaced by a New Bridge
BNSF Bridge Number 0.59
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date January 2017


One of a pair of truss bridges in Ashland, this structure once sat just north of town.
Crossing Salt Creek, it is believed that this bridge was built after 1920.
Consisting of a main 5-panel riveted Pratt Through Truss, the bridge is also approached by a single I-Beam span and several trestle spans on either side.
The bridge is typical of several built for the CB&Q during this time period. The approaches were rebuilt in 1952, due to unknown reasons. One pier was also rebuilt, likely in the 1990s.
Unfortunately, this bridge was replaced in 2018 with a new girder bridge, likely to eliminate clearance concerns.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date (Main Span) Based on ICC Valuation date
Build Date (Approach Span) American Bridge Company plaque
Contractor (Approach Span) American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele