CBQ Hennepin Canal Feeder Bridge (Rock Falls)

Located on the southeast side of Rock Falls, this deck plate bridge carried a CB&Q branch line across the feeder canal for the Hennepin Canal. Between 1890 and 1907, the United States Government constructed the Illinois & Mississippi Canal, later renamed the Hennepin Canal, to connect the Illinois and Mississippi Rivers. The new canal and feeder canal would require eight railroad bridges and sixty-three roadway bridges. Between 1899 and 1900, significant portions of the feeder canal would be constructed in Whiteside County, and a bridge carrying the CB&Q would be required. The bridge would be completed in 1900, and would consist of a a 97-foot single track through plate girder span, set onto concrete abutments. The girder span was fabricated by the Lassig Bridge & Iron Works, which was a major fabricator of railroad bridges throughout the Midwest. The bridge utilizes a typical design for through girder spans over the Hennepin Canal, including tapered and rounded ends and a floor composed of parallel floorbeams. This style of bridge was commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as it was durable and easy to construct. The bridge is now owned by the City of Rock Falls, and its future is unknown. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with only minor deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.