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DM&E Bridge #M-249

Lost Steel Stringer Bridge over Local Road
Waseca, Waseca County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name DM&E Bridge #M-249
Built By Chicago & North Western Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad
Length 20 Feet
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 8 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Steel Stringer
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1908
Date Replaced 2017
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
DM&E Bridge Number M-249
Significance Local Significance


Once located on the west side of the Waseca rail yard, this bridge was in horrible condition at the time of replacement.
Built in 1908, this short steel stringer span rested on stone substructures and crossed a local road into a park. It is unknown what it was originally built to cross.
In the 109 years between construction and replacement, the bridge deteriorated significantly. Throughout the area, other similar spans fail to show signs of this serious of deterioration.
Most structural bracing connecting the two sets of beams had at least partial section loss. Many pieces of metal were also completely rusted through, forming a serious amount of deterioration. As a result, this is one of the worst examples of advanced corrosion the author has ever seen.
While this site is intended to promote preservation, this is an example of a span where no preservation was possible. A short beam span, the bridge had little significance and deterioration that required replacement.
The bridge was replaced in 2017 by a modern timber beam span. This is an interesting choice, based on other bridges being replaced with steel stringers. A simple treated wood beam like this likely costs under $10,000 and can be installed in a day or two.

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 American Bridge Company plaque
Contractor American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele