BNSF Ellison Creek Viaduct

Located east of Media, this large deck plate girder viaduct once carried the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway over Ellison Creek and 1000E Road. The first bridge at this location was likely a large timber trestle, constructed with the intention of replacing it with a permanent bridge within a few years of construction. In 1894, the first bridge would be replaced by a large deck plate girder viaduct, constructed for a single track. During the early portion of the 20th Century, the Santa Fe invested significant capital into upgrading and double tracking their mainline routes. In 1907, this bridge would be widened for a second track, and the substructures of the bridge reconstructed. Further improvements were made to the bridge in 1915, including the construction of a ballast deck and some strengthening of the towers. Other repairs and strengthening occurred during the 20th Century, giving the bridge its final configuration.

The bridge consisted of eight 64-foot deck plate girder spans, with seven 32-foot tower spans. These spans were set onto steel towers and concrete substructures. During the 1907 widening, a single line of girders was added to either side of the original structure, and new bents added to the outside of the original steel towers. Originally, the steel towers were traditionally composed, with the bents set at an angle. The new bents were set at a much larger angle, giving the towers an unusual appearance. The steel was fabricated by an unknown company, and it is believed the concrete was constructed by an unknown contractor. Viaducts such as this were commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as they provided the most simple and economical design for spanning large valleys. In 2017, the bridge would be replaced by a new deck plate girder bridge, set onto concrete piers. At the time of replacement, the bridge appeared to be in fair condition and was well maintained. However, the original viaduct had reached the end of its useful service life, and it was no longer economical to repair the structure. The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the large size and unique modifications to the structure.