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| Name | CN Bridge #71.6 Illinois Central Railroad Bridge #W71.6 |
| Built By | Illinois Central Railroad |
| Currently Owned By | Canadian National Railway |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 14 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 15 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Concrete Arch |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1907 |
| Traffic Count | 5 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | In Use |
| Illinois Central Railroad Bridge Number | W71.6 |
| Canadian National Railway Bridge Number | 71.6 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 12/4/2022 |
In 1851, the State of Illinois authorized the construction of a series
of railroad lines, extending from Cairo, Illinois; located on the Ohio
River, to the Mississippi River at East Dubuque, Illinois and to
Chicago, Illinois. The State awarded the Illinois Central Railroad (IC) with the land necessary
to construct the new lines. Surveys began in 1851, and the first
segments were completed by 1853. The northwestern section connected Freeport, Illinois to East Dubuque, Illinois. Construction was completed on this segment in 1855, and the line would later be extended across Iowa with a bridge over the Mississippi River to Dubuque in 1868. In 1890, the Chicago, Madison & Northern Railroad (CM&N), a subsidiary of the IC, constructed 102 miles of new railroad between Chicago and Freeport, Illinois; linking Chicago with the IC lines in northern Illinois. This served as an important connection for the IC, improving access to Chicago for the railroad. Due to heavy use, the section from Chicago to Broadview would be double tracked by 1895. The CM&N would be operated under lease by the IC until 1903, when it was consolidated into the IC. In the 20th Century, the IC was a respected railroad, operating an extensive railroad network through the central United States. This line served as a mainline for the IC, connecting lines in Iowa to Chicago. In 1972, the IC merged with the Gulf, Mobile & Ohio Railroad
(GM&O) to form the Illinois Central Gulf (ICG). This line, as well as the entire IC system in Iowa, was sold to the Chicago Central & Pacific Railroad (CC&P) in 1995. In 1988, the ICG
was reorganized as the Illinois Central Railroad (IC). In 1995, the CC&P was repurchased by IC and in 1998, IC was
purchased by the Canadian National Railway (CN). Today, CN operates the Freeport Subdivision between Broadview and Freeport, and the portion between Freeport and Dubuque is part of the Dubuque Subdivision.
Located in a rural area between Colvin Park and Irene, this small concrete arch bridge crosses an unnamed tributary of Kingsbury Creek along Flora Church Road. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle. In the early 1900s, the Illinois Central spent significant capital upgrading this route, filling and replacing timber bridges. In 1907, a 14-foot standard circular concrete arch would be constructed at this location. The Illinois Central utilized a number of standard arch designs, including the circular concrete arch. This design used a semicircular arch, with stepped wingwalls extending perpendicular from the railroad. The concrete arch design was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it provided a cost effective, durable and easy to construct structure. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with significant superficial spalling seen on the wing walls. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date | Illinois Central Railroad Iowa Division 1944 Track Profile |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |