P-66-063
WisDOT Designation: Local – Town-owned
Current Owner: Town of Barton
Year Built: 1891
County: Washington County
Crossing: Eau Claire River
Bridge Category: Pin-connected, Pratt overhead
Spans and Type: 1 span, overhead truss
Overall Length and Width: 108 feet x 16 feet
National Register of Historic Places Status: Determined Eligible for listing in the National Register
Details
The Woodford Drive Bridge, constructed in 1891, carries Woodford Drive on an east-west alignment over the Milwaukee River in the town of Barton. The bridge is a single-span, pin-connected, wrought-iron, Pratt thru truss bridge with a wood deck. It has seven panels, each 15 feet, 5 inches measured along the bottom chord. The top chord consists of paired back-to-back channels with top plate and underside V-lacing. Portal bracing consists of angles bolted to the top chord with gusset plates. Vertical and upper lateral members are paired back-to-back channels with V-lacing on both sides. Diagonal members are comprised of paired, loop-welded eye-bars with some having turnbuckles. All members are riveted.
Metal railings on each side of the bridge are composed of two angles with X-lacing. The bottom chord consists primarily of paired, loop-welded eye-bars, with at least one punched eye-bar. The floor system consists of a wood deck with metal plates resting on six steel floor beams suspended from truss verticals and nine lines of stringers with bottom laterals. The bridge has roller expansion bearings on the east end and fixed bearings on the west end. The two abutments are constructed of coursed ashlar stone, with four angled wingwalls.
A tall metal fence extends across the approach to each end of the bridge, blocking access. Bat boxes are mounted on three vertical members of the south truss.
History
Research did not reveal if the current Woodford Drive Bridge was the first crossing at its location. The first mention of the bridge comes from the West Bend Democrat newspaper on Nov. 26, 1890, where the Barton Bridge Committee put out a call for bids for a new bridge. The committee was tasked by the Town of Barton to facilitate the construction of a new metal bridge and was staffed by M. Eisenmann, G.W. Root and Max Gruhle. They requested proposals for masonry work for the abutments and iron work for the new bridge to be built over the Milwaukee River at Young America. By Dec. 17, 1890, the committee made its decision and awarded the contract for the masonry work to Chas. Martin for a total of $1,035. The iron work was awarded to the Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company for a total of $2,600.
Work would swiftly commence on the bridge, and by July 8, 1891, the new bridge at Young America was completed and noted for a “fine appearance.”
The bridge served as one of many Milwaukee River crossings in the area until 2015, when it was deemed unsafe for vehicle and pedestrian traffic. The bridge was closed off and a barrier fence was erected.