logo

Emerado Rail Bridge

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Hazen Brook
Emerado, Grand Forks County, North Dakota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Emerado Rail Bridge
Built By Great Northern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 121 Feet Total, 36 Foot Main Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder and Concrete
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1914
Traffic Count 10 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 12.03
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date August 2020


Located in Emerado, this large deck girder bridge is the eastern crossing of Hazen Brook at the intersection of 17th Street and 25th Street.
Built in 1914, the bridge features two deck plate girder spans, set onto concrete substructures. In addition, the bridge is approached by two concrete slab spans on the east and one on the west. This bridge follows a standard design for the Great Northern.
This style bridge was commonly used to cross rivers, streams and roads because of the cheap cost, easy installation and limited maintenance required. A span like this could often be built while only interrupting traffic for short times.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no major deterioration noted.

The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview. The author hopes to return for better photos of this bridge.

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