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Paper Jack Creek Trail Bridge

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Paper Jack Creek
New Richmond, St. Croix County, Wisconsin

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Paper Jack Creek Trail Bridge
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By City of New Richmond
Length 40 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1915
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails to Trails
C&NW Bridge Number 13
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2019


Located on the south side of New Richmond, this small deck girder bridge carries the Rail Bridge Trail over Paper Jack Creek, behind the Wisconsin Indianhead Technical College.
It is unknown when this bridge was built. It appears that the bridge was built around 1915, likely to replace a wooden trestle. No railroad records could be found on the bridge during research.
The bridge consists of a standard deck girder span, set onto concrete abutments. While a majority of the Northline (Hudson)-Spooner route was removed completely after 1986, this short three-quarter mile section between 6th Street and St. Croix Avenue remains as a trail.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition. Spalling has taken over the abutments, although the steel components appear to be in good condition.

The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele