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RCP&E Bad River Bridge #11

Quadrangular Through Truss Bridge over Bad River
Teton, Stanley County, South Dakota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name RCP&E Bad River Bridge #11
Built By Chicago & North Western Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Rapid City, Pierre & Eastern Railroad
Length 610 Feet Total, 130 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Quadrangular Through Truss and Trestle
Substructure Type Concrete and Timber Pile
Date Built 1924
Traffic Count 2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
RCP&E Bridge Number 1531
Significance Local Significance

Located in Fort Pierre, this massive bridge is the 12th crossing of the Bad River along this route.
Built in late 1924 to replace an earlier wooden Howe Through Truss, this bridge features a single riveted Quadrangular Through Truss span, approached by trestle spans on either side.
The main trusses follow a standardized design for this time period, including A-Frame portal bracing and heavy stringers. The main spans rest on concrete substructures.
Overall, the bridge remains in good condition. It can easily be seen from parallel Bad River Road.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design. In addition, this bridge has received a lower rating due to the high number of significant trusses in Western South Dakota.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be accessed from nearby roads.

Bad River Railroad Bridges
Upstream RCP&E Bad River Bridge #10
Downstream RCP&E Bad River Bridge #12

Citations

Source Type

Source
Main Span Build Date Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad bridge records
Contractor Based on identical structure
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele