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BNSF Wolverton Creek Bridge

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Wolverton Creek
Comstock, Clay County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Wolverton Creek Bridge
Built By Great Northern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 105 Feet Total, 40 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1930
Traffic Count 10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 29.9
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date August 2020


Located north of Comstock and just south of 140th Avenue, this large deck girder bridge crosses Wolverton Creek.
Built 1930, this bridge replaced a standard pile trestle. It features three deck plate girder spans, set onto concrete substructures. Because GN often moved around bridges, it is unknown if these spans are older than 1930. No plaques could be found on the bridge.
Bridges such as this were often used as permanent solutions to trestles, as they were cheap, easy to construct and easy to maintain.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with some minor spalling on the substructures.

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