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Quinsippi Park Road Bridge

Deck Girder Swing Bridge over Quincy Bay
Quincy, Adams County, Illinois

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Quinsippi Park Road Bridge
Built By Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 650 Feet Total, 70 Foot Spans
Width 1 Track, 1 Road Lane
Height Above Ground 10 Feet
Superstructure Type Deck Girder and Stone Arch
Substructure Type Stone Masonry and Concrete
Date Built 1886 Using 1869 Arches
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Road)
Current Status Rail to Road
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date June 2016


This bridge is one of the few remains of the old alignment on the CB&Q through Quincy.
The bridge is comprised of a number of deck girder spans, which are set on wood and stone piers. The main span was originally constructed as a swing span, although it is unlikely it has operated since the World War II era.
Despite this, the bridge retains the original gears for the swing span.
The approaches are stone arches on either end. These arches are original to the 1869 bridge, which was a Bollman Truss structure.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition and currently serves as a road to Quinsippi Island.
Major rehabilitation was conducted in 2015-16, which resulted in the reconstruction of the substructures.

The author has rated the bridge as moderately significant, due to the common design but old arches. However, this rating is enhanced through the 1867 components and the unique reuse.

After abandonment in 1961, it served as a tourist railroad until 1984. The road was constructed right after this.
It was originally abandoned after the railroad relocated just north of this bridge.
The photo above is an overview. More photos will be coming soon.

Mississippi River Railroad Bridges
Upstream (West Channel) BNSF Quincy Bay Bridge
Upstream (Main Channel) Quincy Rail Bridge
Downstream (West Channel) Lower Quincy Bay Bridge
Downstream (Main Channel) Quincy Swing Bridge

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Collection at the Newberry Library, Chicago, Illinois
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele