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UP Red Cedar River Bridge

Pratt Deck Truss Bridge over Red Cedar River
Menomonie, Dunn County, Wisconsin

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Red Cedar River Bridge
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 480 Feet Total, 160 Foot Main Spans
Width 2 Tracks, 1 In Use
Height Above Ground 30 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Pratt Deck Truss and Deck Girder
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1911
Traffic Count 15 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
UP Bridge Number 65.50
Significance Moderate Significance

This large Deck Truss bridge crosses the Red Cedar River, parallel to I-94 in Menomonie.

The bridge features a pair of large 6 panel, pin connected Pratt Deck Trusses. They are approached by deck girder spans on either side.
Stone substructures support the large truss spans. The bridge replaced a single track, Whipple deck truss in 1911. The remains of that structure can be seen as well.
The bridge here was built for double track. However, only the former eastbound track is still active.
Despite being so open alongside I-94, the bridge is actually extremely difficult to photograph. The best way is to follow the hiking trail along I-94 to the east end.

The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, as it is a good example of a bridge retaining great historic integrity.
The photo above is an overview.

Red Cedar River Railroad Bridges
Upstream Colfax Rail Bridge
Downstream Abandoned Red Cedar River Bridge

Citations

Source Type

Source
Build Date American Bridge Company plaque
Contractor American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele