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Barker-Stewart Island Railroad Bridge West

Barker-Stewart Island Railroad Bridge West

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: July 14, 2007, August 15, 2020, and October 17, 2021

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Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
Railroad (Wisconsin Central) Over Wisconsin River (West Channel)
Location
Wausau: Marathon County, Wisconsin: United States
Structure Type
Metal 13 Panel Rivet-Connected Lattice (Quadruple Warren) Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Through Girder, Fixed
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1888 By Builder/Contractor: Lassig Bridge and Iron Works of Chicago, Illinois
Rehabilitation Date
Not Available or Not Applicable
Main Span Length
158.0 Feet (48.2 Meters)
Structure Length
380.0 Feet (115.8 Meters)
Roadway Width
Not Available
Spans
2 Main Span(s) and 1 Approach Span(s)
Inventory Number
Not Applicable

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
View Information About HSR Ratings

Bridge Documentation

This is a multi-span example of a nationally uncommon truss type, with a variety of span designs. The bridge is unusual because it has a truss span at each end and a plate girder in the middle. The western truss span is wider than the eastern truss span, to allow for a slight curving of the track over the bridge at the western end. A truss span was clearly reused and widened through alteration for this part of the bridge. Evidence comes in the form of altered portal bracing, where it is apparant that steel was added to widen the original portal bracing. John Marvig provided research indicating that the girder span was added in 1913 when a flood destroyed the previous span at this portion of the bridge.

Thanks to Chicago NorthWestern Railroad's preference for lattice truss bridges, Wisconsin has a disproportionate number of remaining historic lattice truss bridges (sometimes called Warren Quadrangular trusses), which are on a national range somewhere between uncommon and rare. This is an excellent multi-span example. Apparently once a three-span bridge, the center span is now a through plate girder.

This bridge is one of three impressive railroad bridges that jump islands to cross the Wisconsin River at this location. Southeast of this bridge there is another two-span Lattice truss (Big Bull Falls Park and the east side of the river), and also a single span pony truss (Big Bull Falls Park and Stewart Island). All these bridges are historic.

Above: Aerial view. Photo Credit: Mark Boettcher

Above: Aerial view. Photo Credit: Mark Boettcher


This bridge is tagged with the following special condition(s): Unorganized Photos

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Photo Galleries and Videos: Barker-Stewart Island Railroad Bridge West

 

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2007-2020 Bridge Photo-Documentation

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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2007-2020 Bridge Photo-Documentation

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

2021 Additional Unorganized Photos

Original / Full Size Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
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View Photo Gallery

2021 Additional Unorganized Photos

Mobile Optimized Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

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Maps and Links: Barker-Stewart Island Railroad Bridge West

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

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