BNSF Turkey Creek Bridge (DeWitt)

Located southeast of DeWitt, this through truss bridge carries the BNSF Railway across Turkey Creek. The first bridge here was likely a wooden trestle bridge. In 1905, the bridge would be reconstructed with the present structure. A 132-foot 6-panel pin connected Pratt through truss span would be installed on new concrete piers, and trestle approaches constructed. The truss was originally fabricated in 1895 by the Shiffler Bridge Company at an unknown location, before being moved here. The Shiffler Bridge Company is a relatively obscure bridge builder, constructing a number of spans for the CB&Q during the mid-1890s. It is believed a number of spans were constructed along the line in Montana and Wyoming during this time. The truss utilizes a design standard to the CB&Q during the late 1890s and early 1900s, using pinned connections, laced vertical members and the standard CB&Q portal. The end panel lower connections feature two pinned connections, a feature occasionally seen on bridges from the 1880s and 1890s. This particular portal bracing design utilizes a shallow lattice design, with angular heel bracing, and the sway bracing utilizes a standard bracket style bracing. This particular portal design appears to have been a CB&Q standard, and was used on truss bridges from the 1890s until the 1930s. It is also one of three extant bridges along this line known to use this portal bracing design. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. Both approaches were reconstructed with modular concrete girder spans in 2013. These spans are set onto standard steel pile bents. The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the truss design and unique builder.