logo

UP Wahoo Creek Bridge #4

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Wahoo Creek
Weston, Saunders County, Nebraska

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Wahoo Creek Bridge #4
Built By Union Pacific Railroad
Contractor (Main Span) Unknown
Contractor (Approach) McClintic-Marshall Co. of Chicago
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 170 Feet Total, 50 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder and Steel Stringer
Substructure Type Concrete Pile
Date Built Ca. 1907, Approaches Replaced 1931
Traffic Count 2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
UP Bridge Number 24.70
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date October 2019


Located just off County Road 22 east of Weston, this girder bridge is the fourth crossing of Wahoo Creek along this route.
It appears that the main span also dates to Ca. 1907, like the two nearby bridges over the same creek west of Weston. While not identical to the other through girder bridge, the bridge does share design features. A plaque on the approaches indicates those spans were built in 1931.
It is likely that the bridge originally was approached by trestle and sat on wood piers. The current bridge consists of a single through girder span, with a steel stringer span on the east side and three such spans on the west side. It rests on concrete pile substructures.
This design of bridge appears common for this route. At least three other crossings of Wahoo Creek share similar designs.
The piers of this bridge are made of concrete piles, set under a concrete cap. These piles were likely pre-cast offsite and used as needed.
Overall, the bridge appears to be well maintained and in good condition. Some deterioration of the piers can be noted.

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 (Main Span) Estimated based on nearby bridges
Build Date (Approaches) Plaque
Contractor (Approaches) Plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele