Rock Island Railroad Bridge (Columbia River)

Rock Island Railroad Bridge
Coordinates	47°22′02″N 120°09′07″W
Carries	1 railroad track
Crosses	Columbia River
Locale	Rock Island, WA
Maintained by	BNSF Railway
Characteristics
Design	Truss bridge
Total length	875 feet (267 m)
Longest span	416.5 feet (127 m)
History
Opened	1892
Statistics
Daily traffic	freight
Rock Island Railroad Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	Spans Columbia River about 0.7 miles (1.1 km) southwest of Rock Island
Nearest city	Rock Island, Washington
Coordinates	47°22′01″N 120°09′14″W
Area	1 acre (0.4 ha)
Built	1892
Architect	Edge Moor Bridge Works
Architectural style	fixed span through truss br.
MPS	Historic Bridges/Tunnels in Washington State TR (AD)
NRHP reference No.	75001842[1]
Added to NRHP	July 30, 1975
Location

The Rock Island Railroad Bridge is BNSF Railway's bridge across the Columbia River, at Rock Island, Washington. The structure consists of one through truss, one deck truss, and an approach trestle.

History

The bridge was originally built in 1892 for the Great Northern Railway. Bridging the Columbia River was an important component in completing Great Northern's transcontinental link the following year. The site was chosen at Rock Island, Washington for being the shortest distance between the banks of the Columbia River in Washington state. In 1925, it was decided to strengthen the main span in anticipation of increased traffic and heavier trains by reinforcing the structure with an additional outside truss frame.[2]

References

1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
2. "Nomination Form for Rock Island Railroad Bridge". National Park Service. and accompanying pictures