A four span through truss crosses the Wisconsin River at Wisconsin Rapids..
One of the major barriers faced by the Green Bay Route while constructing its east-west line across the state was the Wisconsin River.
The bridge's origin goes back to July 1872 when the Wood County Board agreed to pay a sum not to exceed $8,000 to the Green Bay and Lake Pepin Railway Company "on condition they erect a good and suitable wagon and foot crossing between Grand Rapids and Centralia and oblige itself to keep same in repair forever." The GB&LP arrived in November 1872.
The railroad chose to cross the river at wide area in the flood plain. In 1904 a dam for a nearby paper mill was built just downstream of the river crossing. I believe that the bridge shown in this 1906 postcard view was built at that time, but I have been unable to confirm that.
This postcard was published by E.C. Kropp of Milwaukee.
Related information:
- Ice Jam (ca. 1906)
- Ice jam in the Wisconsin River at the Green Bay & Western bridge.
- Grand Rapids Bridge (1909)
- This four-span through-truss bridge was built in 1872 as part of the original railroad.
- Wisconsin Rapids Aerial (ca. 1970)
- An aerial view of Wisconsin Rapids shows the Green Bay & Western's bridge over the Wisconsin River.
- Farewell Excursion (1993)
Showing the modern bridge at this location.
Postcard, postmarked 1906.
