UP Water Street Bridge (St. Paul)

St. Paul, Ramsey County, Minnesota

Default pic
North approach
Main span
South approach
Overview
North pier
South pier
Under main span

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Default Pic
North approach
Main span
South approach
Overview
North pier
South pier
Under main span
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Caption:
Name UP Water Street Bridge (St. Paul)
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #15 1/2
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor Unknown
Length 76 Feet Total, 26 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet 0 Inches
Superstructure Design Steel Stringer and Timber Pile Trestle
Substructure Design Timber Pile
Date Built c. 1905
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 15 1/2
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 2.53
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 3/26/2014
In 1865, the Minnesota Valley Railway Company began construction on a new railroad line between Mendota, Minnesota and St. James, Minnesota. The first 22 miles would be completed between Mendota and Merriam Junction in 1865, followed by 17 more miles to Belle Plaine in 1866, 16 additional miles to Le Sueur in 1867, 12 additional miles to Kasota in 1868, and 22 additional miles to Lake Crystal, Minnesota in 1869. Also in 1869, the Minnesota Valley would complete 5 additional miles from Mendota to St. Paul. In 1870, the Minnesota Valley would be purchased by the St. Paul and Sioux City Railroad (StP&SC). 22 additional miles to St. James 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.
In 1881, the StP&SC would be sold to the Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway (CStPM&O), also known as the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would come under control of the Chicago & North Western Railway (C&NW) the next year. This route became the main line of the Western District of the Omaha Road. The Omaha Road would formally be merged into the C&NW in 1959. The C&NW would be purchased by the Union Pacific in 1995, which still operates the St. Paul to St. James segment as the Mankato Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located near Omaha Bridge #15, this small steel stringer and trestle bridge crosses Water Street. Reportedly built in 1905, the bridge consists of a single 26-foot steel stringer span, approached by two trestle spans on either side. The entire bridge is set onto timber substructures. Bridges like this were commonly used by railroads throughout the United States, as they were easy to construct and cheap. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele