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| Name | Abandoned S. Fork Kent Creek Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #480 |
| Built By | Chicago & North Western Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Commonweath Edison |
| Superstructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 28 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 30 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Concrete Arch |
| Substructure Design | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1918 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned) |
| Current Status | Abandoned |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 480 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 1/20/2024 |
In 1836, the Galena and Chicago Union Railroad (G&CU) was charted to construct a railroad line between Chicago and Galena, Illinois. After attempts to construct the railroad in the late 1830s, the company came to a halt due to lack of funds. William B. Ogden was elected director of the G&CU in 1847, and construction on the railroad began in 1848. That year, the first four miles to present day Oak Park were constructed. In 1849, the railroad reached Turner Junction (West Chicago), thirty miles west of downtown Chicago. By the end of 1850, the railroad had reached Elgin, and in 1852, the railroad would reach Rockford. In 1853, the line would be extended to Freeport, Illinois; where it connected to the Illinois Central Railroad. The G&CU realized the company would be better served by constructing a mainline west towards Iowa, and never extended the line past Freeport. In total, the line would be 121 miles in length. The G&CU was consolidated with the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) in 1864. The C&NW was beginning to construct and acquire a large network of railroads throughout the Midwest. The West Chicago to Freeport line formed a secondary route, connecting industries to Chicago.
Through the 20th Century, this route began to decline in significance. The C&NW would become a
prominent railroad in the midwest, eventually building a system over
11,000 miles long. By the 1970s, industries had closed and passenger traffic disappeared.
In 1981, the C&NW would abandon the segment between Rockford and
Freeport. The right-of-way would be purchased by Commonwealth Edison,
and portions of the line converted to the Pecatonica Prairie Path. In 1995, the C&NW would be purchased by the
Union Pacific Railroad. Today, Union Pacific operates the West Chicago to Rockford segment as the Belvidere Subdivision, which mainly serves the Stellanis Plant in Belvidere. Metra service is scheduled to begin to Rockford in 2027, and utilize this line between Elgin and Rockford. West of Rockford, much of the route has become part of the Pecatonica Prairie Path.
Located on the west side of Rockford, this large concrete arch bridge once carried the Chicago & North Western Railway over the South Fork of Kent Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, constructed when the line was first constructed. In the 1860s or 1870s, a small 10-foot by 10-foot stone arch culvert would be constructed at this location, and the remainder of the structure filled with embankment. A flood in 1917 severely damaged the structure, and a temporary 52' deck girder and trestle bridge was constructed. In June 1918, the present bridge would be constructed to replace the temporary structure. The girder from the temporary structure, which had been built in 1903 at another location, was likely reused elsewhere. The bridge consists of a 28-foot concrete arch span, constructed at a width of 33 feet. The bridge utilizes a standard C&NW design, including a semicircular arch and wing walls which extend from the structure at an angle. Concrete arch bridges were popular with railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. It is currently unknown which contractor may have built the bridge. An additional bridge crossed Horace Avenue immediately east of this bridge. This structure consisted of a 40' deck plate girder span, set onto concrete abutments. This bridge was constructed in 1914, and removed upon abandonment of the line. Since the initial construction, the bridge does not appear to have been significantly altered. Today, the bridge has been abandoned and is visible from Cunningham Road. 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
| Build date | Date stamp |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |