UP Woodland Avenue Bridge

Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minnesota

Default pic
Pier of new bridge north of original bridge
Overview
Looking south
South approach
Main span
South approach
Overview
Overview

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Default Pic
Pier of new bridge north of original bridge
Overview
Looking south
South approach
Main span
South approach
Overview
Overview
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Date Taken:
Author:
Caption:
Name UP Woodland Avenue Bridge
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #422 1/2
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (South Track)
Chicago & North Western Railway (North Track)
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor Des Moines Steel Company of Des Moines, Iowa (South Track)
Unknown (North Track)
Length 72 Feet Total, 30 Foot Main Span
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Design Steel Stringer and Timber Pile Trestle
Substructure Design Timber Pile
Date Built c. 1930
Traffic Count 15 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status Open to Traffic
422 1/2 (South Track)
M-1604 (North Track)
87.50
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 11/12/2011
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. The first 22 miles would be completed between Mendota and Merriam Junction in 1865, followed by 17 more miles to Belle Plaine in 1866, 16 additional miles to Le Sueur in 1867, 12 additional miles to Kasota in 1868, and 22 additional miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 1869. Also in 1869, the Minnesota Valley would complete 5 additional miles from Mendota to St. Paul. In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James would be completed in 1870. The StP&SC completed 58 more miles from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota in 1871; and 64 additional miles to Le Mars, Iowa were completed in 1872. At Le Mars, the route connected to an existing railroad, over which the StP&SC used trackage rights to reach Sioux City.
In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CStPM&O), also known as the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. The C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific in 1995, which still operates the St. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located on the southwest side of Mankato, this steel stringer bridge carries the former Chicago & North Western Railway/Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway over Woodland Avenue near Sibley Park. Little is known about the history of this bridge. It is believed that the bridge was constructed in approximately 1930 to eliminate a busy grade crossing. The bridge consists of a 30-foot deck plate girder span, approached by timber pile trestle spans on either end and set onto timber piles. The two tracks use different designs, with the south track using six beams arranged in two sets of three, while the north track uses six evenly spaced beams. A missing plaque on the south track span indicates it was fabricated by the Des Moines Steel Company, while a missing plaque on the north track suggests it may have been fabricated by successor Pittsburgh-Des Moines Steel Company. This type of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it is easy to construct and economical. In 1987, the nearby Blue Earth River bridge was replaced, and a new single track bridge constructed immediately north of this bridge. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with significant deterioration to the timber components. The bridge now serves as a yard lead to a large soybean plant. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Builder Missing Des Moines Steel Company plaque
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele