Chicago and North Western Railroad Bridge, bridge in United States of America
The Chicago and North Western Railroad Bridge is a railway bridge that crosses the Missouri River in South Dakota, connecting the towns of Pierre and Fort Pierre. Its construction uses steel with a Pennsylvania truss design and features five spans, one of which is a swing span designed to allow ships to pass through.
The bridge was begun in 1905 and completed in 1907, becoming the first permanent crossing of the Missouri River in central South Dakota. It allowed the Chicago and North Western Railway to extend its rail line into the western parts of the state where terrain was previously difficult to traverse.
The bridge carries the name of the Chicago and North Western Railway, the railroad company that operated it. It connects Pierre and Fort Pierre and shapes the appearance of both towns today, where it stands as a distinct steel structure across the Missouri River.
The bridge is best viewed from the Missouri River banks or accessed via nearby roads in Pierre or Fort Pierre. Visitors should be aware that active railroad tracks cross the structure, so approaching it requires caution and respect for ongoing rail operations.
The swing span of the bridge system was once a working feature that could open to let larger boats pass, though this function is rarely used today. It remains the only historic swing bridge of its kind still standing in South Dakota, making it a rare example of this engineering approach.
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