View an article regarding the construction of this route.
This massive bridge can be seen for blocks in each direction from Watertown Plank Road.
Built in 1910, the bridge features 5 deck girders on steel towers crossing Watertown Plank Road and Underwood Creek. The main span is a huge 7 panel riveted Parker Through truss with M-Frame portal bracings.
The substructures are all concrete, and the plates state Pennsylvania Steel Company as the constructor for the main span, and American Bridge Company the approach spans.
Watertown Plank Road started as a toll road in the 1830s between Watertown and Milwaukee, and later became US-16. US-16 once extended into Milwaukee, but quit following the current route upon the construction of I-94
in the 1960s.
US-16 was turned over to the state in 1986 as WI-16, which currently ends at I-94 near Pewaukee.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition.
The author has ranked the bridge as being moderately significant, due to the truss design.
The photo above is looking from Watertown Plank Road.
Citations
Source Type |
Source |
| Build Date | Date Stamp |
| Contractor (Main Span) | Pennsylvania Steel Company plaque |
| Contractor (Approach Span) | Missing American Bridge Company plaque |
| Railroad Line History Source | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |