Located in a remote area between West Salem and Medary Junction, this slab bridge is one of several similar bridges along this segment of railroad.
Built 1910, the bridge features four spans of concrete slab, set onto concrete substructures. Because the bridge crosses an unnamed creek within a large marsh, much of the concrete has deteriorated significantly.
Spans like this were immensely common along almost every American railroad, due to the ease of construction. During the 1910s, these style bridges became a cheap and viable alternative for wooden trestles.
While the bridge is structurally stable, oil trains run along this line. If this bridge were to collapse under the weight of such a train, it would create an environmental disaster for the surrounding wetlands. As a result, this bridge will likely need to be upgraded within the coming years.
Of the several similar bridges along this segment, this one appears to be in the worst condition. Several areas are completely spalled away, likely now beginning to affect structural integrity. It is clear that the bridge is receiving extra inspections, and the inspector is noting the changes directly on the bridge with paint.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in extremely poor condition, with spalling throughout the structure.
The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview. In addition to this bridge, there is a former Chicago & North Western bridge immediately to the south, as well as another Canadian Pacific bridge to the east.