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| Name | UP Sand Creek Bridge Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #179 |
| Built By | Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway |
| Currently Owned By | Union Pacific Railroad |
| Superstructure Contractor | Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 80 Feet Total |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 10 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Type | Through Plate Girder |
| Substructure Type | Concrete |
| Date Built | 1916 |
| Traffic Count | 5 Trains/Day (Estimated) |
| Current Status | Open to Traffic |
| Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number | 179 |
| Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number | 36.33 |
| Significance | Local Significance |
| Documentation Date | 11/21/2012 |
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company (MVR) began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. In 1865, the first 22 miles were completed between Mendota, Minnesota and Merriam Junction, Minnesota; followed by 17 additional miles to Belle Plaine, Minnesota in 1866. In 1867, the MVR completed an additional 16 miles to Le Sueur, Minnesota; followed by 12 additional miles to Kasota, Minnesota in 1868. In 1869, the MVR completed an additional 22 miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota. The same year, an additional 5 miles would be completed between St. Paul, Minnesota and Mendota. In 1870, the MVR would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James, Minnesota would be completed in 1870. The StP&SC completed 58 more miles from St. James to Worthington, Minnesota in 1871; and 64 additional miles to Le Mars, Iowa were completed in 1872. At Le Mars, the route connected to an existing railroad, over which the StP&SC used trackage rights to reach Sioux City, Iowa.
In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (Omaha Road). The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. The C&NW had developed a large network of railroad lines in the Midwest, with the Omaha Road serving as the northern extent of the company. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. Several improvements were made to the line in the late 19th and early 20th Centuries. Between 1898 and 1906, several sections of the line were realigned between Blakeley, Minnesota and Mankato. In 1957, the C&NW leased the Omaha Road, and the C&NW purchased the company in 1972. The C&NW was purchased by Union Pacific Railroad (UP) in 1995. UP still operates the St. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision and the St. James to Sioux City segment as the Worthington Subdivision. The line remains a mainline for UP, connecting St. Paul to Sioux City and providing UP with a mainline into the Twin Cities.
Located between Merriam Junction and Jordan, this through plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (Omaha Road) mainline across Sand Creek. The first bridge at this location was likely a timber pile trestle, dating to when the line was first constructed. In the late 19th and early 20th Centuries, the Omaha Road invested significant capital into this line, replacing timber bridges and light iron structures with heavier steel, stone and concrete bridges. In 1916, the original bridge was replaced by the present steel bridge. Currently, the bridge consists of an 80-foot through plate girder span, set onto concrete substructures. The superstructure follows a standard design for the era, with a traditionally composed floor and square girder ends. In addition, the span is slightly skewed. The abutments follow a slight modification of a standard design, with sloped wing walls on two of the four quadrants. Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company fabricated the superstructure, while an unknown contractor constructed the abutments. Through girder spans were popular with railroads, as they were durable and easy to construct. Since the initial construction, the bridge has seen no significant alterations. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with some cracking noted throughout the abutments. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
Citations
| Build date | Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway Valuation Notes located at the Chicago & North Western Historical Society Archives |
| Builders (superstructure) | Missing Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |