Dubuque Rail Bridge

The Dubuque Rail Bridge carries a single rail line across the Mississippi River between Dubuque, Iowa, and East Dubuque, Illinois, near river mile 580.

Dubuque Rail Bridge
The Dubuque Railroad Bridge.
Coordinates	42°29′55″N 90°39′01″W
Carries	Single rail track
Crosses	Mississippi River
Locale	Dubuque, Iowa and East Dubuque, Illinois
Maintained by	Canadian National Railway
Characteristics
Design	Truss Bridge with Swing-span
History
Opened	December 1868

It is currently operated by Canadian National Railway. as a result of their 1999 purchase of Illinois Central Railroad.

History

The original swing bridge was constructed by Andrew Carnegie and operated by the Dunleith & Dubuque Bridge Company opening in December 1868,[1] primarily used by the Illinois Central Railroad.

The Dubuque Rail Bridge was rebuilt in the 1890s and has 5 spans and a swing-span. Because of a 150-foot (46 m) bluff very close to the Mississippi riverbank on the Illinois side, the railroad tracks enter a 1/4-mile tunnel that curves 90-degrees to the south to allow trains to proceed along the tracks adjacent to the river south of the bridge. [2]

See also

• List of crossings of the Upper Mississippi River

References

1. Ringwalt, J.L. (1888). "Development of Early Transportation Systems in the United States". Retrieved 2008-08-08.
2. "Canadian National Railroad Bridge, Dubuque, IA". www.johnweeks.com.

External links

• USACE.mil Dubuque Rail Bridge clearances