Located in Lodi, this through girder bridge carries Mill Street over the Wisconsin & Southern Railroad.
The previous bridge, a pony truss very similar to the Chestnut Street Overpass, was built in 1896 using a secondhand railroad span.
At an unknown point after 1918, that bridge was replaced by the current structure. The current bridge utilizes a through girder span, which was reused from a former railroad bridge. The girder was heavily rebuilt with a new floor, and placed onto timber substructures. In addition, timber trestles approach the girder on either side. The base of the piers is made of concrete, which replaced a stone base on the previous bridge.
Like many of these overpasses, this bridge has a distinct humpback shape, to allow for sufficient clearance underneath the bridge.
The reuse of railroad spans for roadway use was very common for railroads. Trusses and girders of all types would be replaced by a new railroad bridge, and the old span reused for roadway use. As is the case with this bridge, many of these bridges would be extensively rebuilt with a new floor system and other modifications.
It is unknown when the girder was actually built, when the bridge built or where the girder came from. A faded stenciling on the bridge seems to imply that the bridge came from Bridge #24 somewhere, but where that bridge was is currently unknown. The author is attempting to find more on this bridge.
Overall, the bridge is in poor condition. While the girder seems to be in serviceable condition, the approaches and timber substructures are beginning to fail.
Unfortunately, the United States has lost a significant portion of the population of recycled railroad spans. Many have been replaced or outright removed since the 1990s, and this trend is expected to continue. This is unfortunate, as many of these spans, while altered, retain great historic integrity, and are often some of the oldest in the area.
The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.