Located in a remote area east of Medary Junction, this slab bridge is one of several similar bridges along this segment of railroad.
Built 1911, the bridge features five spans of concrete slab, set onto concrete substructures. The bridge was built to cross one of many small unnamed creeks that flows through the wetlands in the area.
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.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with some significant spalling on the substructure.
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.