Whitewood Creek Road Bridge (South)

Deadwood, Lawrence County, South Dakota

Default pic
Looking south
Overview
Overview
North abutment
Plaque
Overview
Looking south
Looking south
Looking north
Looking north
South abutment

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Default Pic
Looking south
Overview
Overview
North abutment
Plaque
Overview
Looking south
Looking south
Looking north
Looking north
South abutment
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Author:
Caption:
Name Whitewood Creek Road Bridge (South)
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #K-3
Built By Chicago & North Western Railway
Currently Owned By Lawrence County
Superstructure Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Length 80 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Through Plate Girder
Substructure Design Stone Masonry
Date Built 1908
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Open to Automobile Traffic)
Current Status Open to Automobile Traffic
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number K-3
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 7/16/2017

In 1890, the Fremont, Elkhorn & Missouri Valley Rail Road Company (FE&MV) constructed a nine mile branch line from Whitewood, South Dakota to Deadwood, South Dakota.  The FE&MV would be reorganized in 1891, and sold to the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1903.  The C&NW had constructed and acquired a large number of railroad lines throughout the Midwest, and utilized this line as a branch line.  The route connected with the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy at Deadwood.  In 1970, the route would be abandoned, and much of the former right-of-way acquired by adjacent landowners.

Located north of Deadwood along Whitewood Creek Road, this through plate girder bridge is the southern bridge across Whitewood Creek. Built in 1908 to replace an older pony truss bridge, the bridge consists of a single 80-foot through plate girder span, set onto stone abutments. The girder utilizes square ends, often seen on through plate girder bridges. This design of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Builder and build date American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele