ICG Farm Creek Bridge

Located near Jefferson Street in Washington, this concrete arch bridge carries the former Chicago & Alton Railroad over Farm Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line first opened. During the late 19th Century and early 20th Century, the C&A made a number of improvements to their lines, replacing aging bridges with stone, steel and concrete structures. In approximately 1905, the original bridge at this location would be replaced by a concrete arch span. The bridge consists of a 16-foot concrete arch, set onto concrete abutments. The arch uses a semicircular design, and wing walls which extend diagonally from the structure. It is unknown if the structure was constructed by railroad company forces or by an unknown contractor. Concrete arch bridges were commonly used by railroads, as the design provided a durable and easy to construct structure. Since the initial construction, the bridge appears to have only seen minor repairs, including epoxying of cracks. The bridge now carries an unnamed pedestrian trail, which extends for a short distance along the former C&A in Washington. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some cracking noted throughout the structure. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.