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UP Lone Tree Creek Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Lone Tree Creek
Detroit, Dickinson County, Kansas

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Lone Tree Creek Bridge
Built By Union Pacific Railroad
Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 65 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1899
Traffic Count 3 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
UP Bridge Number 156.43
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date December 2019


Located along Old US Highway 40 between Chapman and Detroit, this through girder bridge crosses Lone Tree Creek.
Built in 1899, the bridge consists of a single through girder span, set onto stone substructures. No modifications were found on the girder, although the creek below has been channelized.
These style bridges were commonly used along this line, due to the cheap cost, easy maintenance and availability of mass produced spans such as this. This is one of relatively few spans between Topeka and Salina with stone substructures.
Most bridges along this line were either built around 1899-1900, or around 1905-06. Unlike the bridge to the west, this span actually has an intact plaque.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. While the substructure has spots where it is in poor condition, the superstructure is in excellent condition.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Plaque
Contractor Plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele