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UP Welch Creek Bridge (Belvue)

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Welch Creek
Belvue, Pottawatomie County, Kansas

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Welch Creek Bridge (Belvue)
Built By Union Pacific Railroad
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 50 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 5 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1906
Traffic Count 3 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
UP Bridge Number 96.72
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date December 2019


Located along US Highway 24 just east of Belvue, this is the eastern of four nearly identical through girder spans within approximately one half mile.
Built 1906, the bridge consists of a single through girder span, set onto concrete substructures. Built to cross Welch Creek, the bridge is identical to two of the other three spans in this area.
While no plaque is intact on the bridge, a the nearby bridge over Lost Creek has a 1906 plaque. It appears that many spans along this route were built in the 1905-1906.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. Some minor spalling was noted throughout the substructures, although 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 Based on identical nearby bridge
Contractor Missing plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele