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| Name | UP Bridge #39.05 Union Pacific Railroad Bridge #39.05 |
| Built By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | American Bridge Company of New York |
| Length | 65 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Deck Plate Girder |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1937 |
| Traffic Count | 2 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number | 39.05 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 10/30/2021 |
Between 1876 and 1877, the Omaha and Republican Valley Railroad (O&RV) constructed a new railroad line between Fremont and Valparaiso, Nebraska. The line would be extended to Lincoln in 1880, and to Beatrice in 1884. The railroad was reorganized as the Omaha and Republican Valley Railway in 1887, which was sold to the Union Pacific Railroad (UP) between 1893 and 1898. UP had constructed and acquired a large amount of lines throughout the western United States, and was best known for completing the First Transcontinental Railroad. This route served as a secondary line for the UP, connecting several branch lines throughout southern Nebraska and Kansas. The route continued to be operated by Union Pacific until 2001, when the segment south of Lincoln was abandoned. This segment has since been turned into the Jamaica North Trail and the Homestead Trail. Union Pacific operates the remaining segment between Lincoln and Fremont as the Lincoln Subdivision.
Located south of Valparaiso along Nebraska Highway 79, this standard deck plate girder bridge crosses an unnamed tributary of North Oak Creek. Built in 1937, the bridge consists of a single 65-foot deck plate girder span, set onto concrete abutments. The girder was fabricated by American Bridge Company, and utilizes a ballast deck. 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 |