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Silver Creek Trail Bridge (West Union)

Deck Girder Bridge over Silver Creek
West Union, Todd County, Minnesota

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Silver Creek Trail Bridge (West Union)
Built By Great Northern Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Minnesota DNR
Length 75 Feet Total, 37 Foot Largest Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built Ca. 1910
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails to Trails
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date January 2022


Located just east of West Union, this small deck girder bridge carries the Lake Wobegon Trail over Silver Creek.
Built in approximately 1910, the bridge features three deck girder spans, set onto concrete substructures. These girders all feature a standard design.
Unfortunately, no records, plaques or stamps could be found on this bridge. The history of this structure is still under investigation.
This style of bridge is exceptionally common on American railroads, due to the ease of construction and durability.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with minor spalling noted throughout the structure.

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 Great Northern Railway AFE
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele