UP Lake Street Bridge

Worthington, Nobles County, Minnesota

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Overview
South abutment
Overview
North abutment

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Overview
South abutment
Overview
North abutment
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Name UP Lake Street Bridge
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #677
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Superstructure Contractor Unknown
Substructure Contractor Unknown
Length 40 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 13 Feet 6 Inches
Superstructure Design Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Design Stone Masonry
Date Built 1920
Traffic Count 5 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge Number 677
Union Pacific Railroad Bridge Number 178.10
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date 1/1/2016
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. James to Le Mars segment as the Worthington Subdivision. The line continues to carry steady traffic.

Located on the south side of Worthington, this small deck plate girder bridge carries the former Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway over Lake Street. Little is known about the history of this bridge. Reportedly built in 1920, the bridge features a single 40-foot deck plate girder span, set onto stone abutments. The girder has been reinforced with additional girder lines, likely indicating that portions of this bridge date to before 1920. Railroads oftentimes reused girders to strengthen other bridges. It is unknown which contractor fabricated the girders, or which contractor constructed the substructures. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with some deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.

Citations

Build date National Bridge Inventory (NBI)
Railroad History Citation ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele