Robert Thompson
About Me
Website: http://www.bridgehunter.com/profile/thompson/Robert Thompson was born in Shelton, WA in 1956, but grew up in Appleton, WI, which is located on the Fox River. The Fox River has a wide variety of bridge types - particularly swing, bascule and vertical-lift, being part of the historic Fox-Wisconsin waterway. He is quoted as saying "every kid needs a lock and dam system to play with when they're growing up!"
The fascination with structures and water continues. Currently in Marinette WI, for the previous 30 years he had been living in Sturgeon Bay WI, and is employed in the field of Naval Architecture. For 25 years, he was Senior Designer for Timothy Graul Marine Design, Inc. In this capacity, he helped design several of the ferries that appear on this site, including:
Washington Island Ferry Line (M/V Washington, M/V Arni J Richter)
Beaver Island Boat Co. (M/V Emerald Isle)
Eastern Upper Peninsula Transportation Authority (M/V Sugar Islander II, M/V Drummond Islander III, M/V Drummond Islander IV)
Madeline Island Ferry Line (M/V Madeline)
Neuman Boat Line, Ohio (M/V Endeavor)
Miller Boat Line, Ohio (M/V Islander, M/V South Bass, M/V Put-in-Bay, M/V William Market)
Wisconsin Department of Transportation (COLSAC III)
Illinois Department of Transportation (Kampsville Ferry, Winfield Ferry)
Sisterville Ferry, West Virginia
Grafton Ferry, Illinois
Random Selection of Photos
Recent Updates
Jefferson Avenue Bridge (Wayne County, Michigan)Bascule bridge over Rouge River on Jefferson Avenue in Detroit
May 12, 2013: Updated by Robert Thompson: Added info on 2013 collision
CNW Fox River Swing Bridge (Winnebago County, Wisconsin)Lattice through truss bridge over Fox River on single track of Canadian National Railway in Oshkosh
April 6, 2013: New photos
Fischer Creek Bridge (Manitowoc County, Wisconsin)Pony truss bridge over Fischer Creek on Recreational Trail
April 6, 2013: Added
CN Dutchman Creek Arch Bridge (Brown County, Wisconsin)Stone arch bridge over Dutchman Creek on Union Pacific Railroad
April 1, 2013: Updated by Robert Thompson: Updated Railroad company
CN Dutchman Creek Arch Bridge (Brown County, Wisconsin)Stone arch bridge over Dutchman Creek on Union Pacific Railroad
April 1, 2013: Added
M&StL Willow Creek Bridge (Cerro Gordo County, Iowa)Lost pratt deck truss bridge over Willow Creek on Railroad
February 25, 2013: Updated by Robert Thompson: Spelling correction
Mountain-Bay Trail ELS Overpass (Brown County, Wisconsin)Pony/through plate girder bridge over Semi-abandoned Escanaba & Lake Superior Railroad on Mountain-Bay Trail (Former CNW)
February 9, 2013: Added
Mountain-Bay Trail Velp Avenue Overpass (Brown County, Wisconsin)Deck plate girder bridge over County Hwy HS (Former US-141) on Mountain-Bay Trail (Former CNW)
February 9, 2013: Added
CN Riverside Drive Overpass (Brown County, Wisconsin)Pony/through plate girder bridge over Riverside Drive on CN Railroad
February 4, 2013: Added
CN Big Suamico River Bridge (Brown County, Wisconsin)Deck plate girder bridge over Big Suamico River on Railroad
February 4, 2013: Added
Twin Bridges (Henderson County, Kentucky)Pair of cantilevered through truss bridges over the Ohio River on US 41. Rehabilitated 2008
January 12, 2013: New photos
Grayville Railroad Bridge (White County, Illinois)Pratt through truss swing bridge over Wabash River on Railroad in Grayville
January 12, 2013: New photo
Norfolk Southern Wabash River East bridge Biddles Island (Cass County, Indiana)Bridge over Wabash River Main Channel on Norfolk Southern Railroad(N&W, Wabash Railroads) in Logansport
January 12, 2013: New photos
Ogden Street Bridge (Marinette County, Wisconsin)Bascule bridge over Menominee River on Ogden Street in Marinette / 1st Street in Menominee
January 7, 2013: Updated by Robert Thompson: Edited bridge names.
Old Ogden Street Bridge (Marinette County, Wisconsin)Lost Bridge over Menominee River on Ogden St. / 1st Street
January 7, 2013: Updated by Robert Thompson: Added demolition date.
Old Ogden Street Bridge (Marinette County, Wisconsin)Lost Bridge over Menominee River on Ogden St. / 1st Street
January 7, 2013: Updated by Robert Thompson: Added categories "Menominee River", "Navigable waterway"
Old Ogden Street Bridge (Marinette County, Wisconsin)Lost Bridge over Menominee River on Ogden St. / 1st Street
January 7, 2013: Added
New London Bridge (Outagamie County, Wisconsin)Lost deck truss bridge over Embarrass River and (abandoned) Chicago & Northwestern Railroad on STH 54 in New London
January 5, 2013: Updated by Robert Thompson: Added reason for removeable center span.
McConnelsville Bridge (Morgan County, Ohio)Through truss bridge over Muskingum River on County Road 203 in McConnelsville
January 5, 2013: Updated by Robert Thompson: Removed "Moveable" from categories. This is a fixed span.
Ogden Street Bridge (Marinette County, Wisconsin)Bascule bridge over Menominee River on Ogden Street in Marinette / 1st Street in Menominee
January 5, 2013: New photos
Wauponsee Glacial Trail Bridge (Will County, Illinois)Pratt through truss bridge over Kankakee River on Wauponsee Glacial Trail (formerly Norfolk & Western Railway )
January 5, 2013: Added
Eureka Bridge (Winnebago County, Wisconsin)Scherzer-type rolling lift bascule bridge (with overhead counterweight) over Fox River on CTH K in Town of Rushford
November 10, 2012: New photos
CNW Fox River Swing Bridge (Winnebago County, Wisconsin)Lattice through truss bridge over Fox River on single track of Canadian National Railway in Oshkosh
November 10, 2012: New photos
Cedarburg Interurban Bridge (Ozaukee County, Wisconsin)Through truss bridge over Cedar Creek on Ozaukee Interurban Trail - Former Electric Interurban Line
November 3, 2012: New photos
Baileys Creek abandoned arch bridge (Menominee County, Michigan)Abandoned concrete pony arch bridge over Bailey Creek on Former early shore highway
October 28, 2012: Added
Mill Street (Rat River) Bridge (Forest County, Wisconsin)Pinned Pratt pony truss bridge over Rat River on Private industrial road
October 27, 2012: Added
E. Chain Lake Road bridge (Oconto County, Wisconsin)Concrete deck girder bridge over Unnamed creek on E. Chain Lake Road
October 14, 2012: Added
Appleton CN Railway Swing Bridge (Outagamie County, Wisconsin)Through truss bridge over Fox River (US Army Corps of Engineers canal) on Canadian National Railway (former Chicago and Northwestern Railway) in Appleton
October 2, 2012: New photo
Bridge at Bailey County Park (Menominee County, Michigan)Concrete pony arch bridge on Predecessor of Highway M-26
September 29, 2012: New photos
Amberg Railroad Bridge (Marinette County, Wisconsin)Deck plate girder bridge over Pike River on Escanaba and Lakeshore Railroad
August 5, 2012: Added
Peshtigo Paper Mill Railroad Bridge (Marinette County, Wisconsin)Pony truss bridge over Peshtigo River on Abandoned Railroad Track
June 18, 2012: New photos
Trenary Highway 67 Bridge (Alger County, Michigan)Deck arch bridge over Scotts Creek on Michigan STH 67
May 14, 2012: Added
Au Train River M-94 Bridge (Alger County, Michigan)Deck arch bridge over Au Train River on Michigan STH 94
May 14, 2012: Added
Au Train River Railroad Bridge (Alger County, Michigan)Closed-spandrel arch bridge over Au Train River on Coalwood Trail (formerly LS&I RR)
May 14, 2012: New photos
Michigan STH 35 Bridge (Delta County, Michigan)Deck plate girder bridge on Michigan STH 35
May 14, 2012: Added
Sabine Street Bridge (Harris County, Texas)Concrete tee beam bridge over Buffalo Bayou on Sabine Street
May 9, 2012: Updated by Robert Thompson: Updated with corrections from those who know.
Randville Railway Bridge (Dickinson County, Michigan)Deck arch bridge over West Branch of Sturgeon River on Railroad
May 5, 2012: Added
Deck plate girder bridge over US Government Navigation Canal / Turbine outflow canal
April 22, 2012: Added
Freeman Railroad trestle (Forest County, Wisconsin)Timber stringer bridge on Former railroad, now off-road trail
April 11, 2012: Added
St. Paul Road Railroad Bridge (Marinette County, Wisconsin)Pony/through plate girder bridge over "The Outlet" on CN Railroad
April 11, 2012: Added
Kewaunee WI Bascule Bridge (Kewaunee County, Wisconsin)Lost Pony/through plate girder bridge over Kewaunee River on Sth 29/42-Milwauke
March 31, 2012: New photos
Kewaunee Railroad Swing Bridge (Kewaunee County, Wisconsin)Deck plate girder bridge over Kewaunee River on Ahnapee State Trail (formerly Green Bay & Western railroad.
March 31, 2012: Added
CN Railroad Menominee River Bridge (Michigan) (Menominee County, Michigan)Deck plate girder bridge over Menominee River on CN Railroad
March 11, 2012: Added
CN Railroad Menominee River Bridge (Wisconsin) (Marinette County, Wisconsin)Deck plate girder bridge over Menominee River on CN Railroad
March 11, 2012: Added
Shioc Road Bridge (Outagamie County, Wisconsin)Stone arch bridge over Shioc River on Pedestrian Walkway
March 10, 2012: New photos
CN Railway Wolf River Vertical Lift Bridge (Waupaca County, Wisconsin)Pony/through plate girder bridge over Wolf River on Canadian National Railway
March 10, 2012: Updated by Robert Thompson: Changed description to "Vertical Lift Bridge"
CN Railway Wolf River Vertical Lift Bridge (Waupaca County, Wisconsin)Pony/through plate girder bridge over Wolf River on Canadian National Railway
March 10, 2012: Updated by Robert Thompson: Changed bridge type to "Vertical Lift", following completion of conversion
CN Railway Wolf River Vertical Lift Bridge (Waupaca County, Wisconsin)Pony/through plate girder bridge over Wolf River on Canadian National Railway
March 4, 2012: Updated by Robert Thompson: Editorial change in description
Rice Avenue Bridge (Bayfield County, Wisconsin)Deck truss bridge over Pike Creek on Rice Avenue
March 4, 2012: Updated by Robert Thompson: Typo fixed.
Eureka Bridge (Winnebago County, Wisconsin)Scherzer-type rolling lift bascule bridge (with overhead counterweight) over Fox River on CTH K in Town of Rushford
March 4, 2012: New photo
Recent Comments
Bridgetender arrested on suspicion of intoxication.
"Friends don't let friends operate bridges drunk."
Freighter Herbert C. Jackson collides with Jefferson Street Bridge in Detroit. Bridge is impassible until further notice.
OK, Luke, you win. I meant "Abandoned by thingies with wheels". ;)
RKT
A 1000 foot freighter passes through the Michigan Street and Oregon Street bridges.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152678012870125.1073741825.204557660124&type=1
A 1000 foot freighter passes through the Michigan Street and Oregon Street bridges.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10152678012870125.1073741825.204557660124&type=1
http://bridgehunter.com/category/waterway/wisconsin-river/
http://bridgehunter.com/category/waterway/fox-river-to-green-bay-wi/
The Federal Government took over the Green Bay and Mississippi Canal Company in 1870 and ran the entire system until it abandoned the Wisconsin River and Upper Fox River portion in 1951. The Lower Fox River section continued to be operated by the Army Corps of Engineers until the 1980's.
1) The swing span is the third span out from the northwest shore. Just checked it out on Yahoo Maps.
2) Quite true "The Wisconsin was never deep enough to handle commercial boat traffic". But that did not prevent the Federal Government from spending millions of dollars per year to maintain the Fox-Wisconsin waterway.
If you don't believe me, take a look at the dam at Prairie du Sac. You will see a large, now disused navigation lock at the west end. If there was no navigation in the river, why was it put there?
re: pedestrian walkway
If there were still trains running over the top of the structure, there would be serious worries. But the bridge is massively over-built for the service it sees now.
I agree with Robert Elder. The "Anonymous Post" feature has been abused; if you lack the courage to stand by your statements, you shouldn't post them. And Sheldon has been treated poorly, especially by anonymous posters.
I think this listing should be saved for the now-demolished bridge, and a new one be made up for the new replacement. Whoever gets over there first gets to do it...
The photos I had posted were for a different bridge. I have deleted them.
Is there a snail-mail address where I can send a check?
The Back Channel Bridge is in the far, far background. That's the main channel Swing Bridge ( http://bridgehunter.com/wi/sauk/bh46753/ ) in the foreground.
The new bridge? PUKE
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/profile/thompson/