Historic Bridges of the U.S. | N. 50th Street Menomonee River Bridge

Overview

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Photos

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The East Side

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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The Deck & East Railing

This bridge is closed and there is a concrete barricade at the north portal as well as a locked, chain link gate. Local artisans have opened the gate anyway, to ply their trade on the railings.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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South Portal

The land on the south end of this bridge is Doyne Park, owned by Milwaukee County.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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Deck Looking North

At the north portal is the gate, open, exactly as we encountered it.

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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West Truss Detail

Photo taken by J.R. Manning in July 2008

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There IS a bridge at this location

Written by J.R. Manning

UPDATE!

In March, 2008, I was unable to locate this bridge and wrote the following:

I have no idea what bridge this listing references. There is no 50th Street bridge crossing the Menomonee River. 50th Street runs north of State Street, but not south of State Street. Private property borders the north edge of the river at 5000 West.

There is a plate girder bridge at 45th Street, just to the east.

A little farther west, about 6100 West, just north of Honey Creek Parkway, there are abutments and piers of a missing bridge. A local resident says this may have been a pedestrian walkway.

On July 5, 2008, I found the bridge. It is well hidden behind private property and even then, is well hidden by overgrowth of brush in the area.

I cannot even begin to imagine why this one lane bridge was built. The south end provides access to Doyne Park property, much more easily accessable from Wells Street. There does not appear to be any developed walking or nature trail, nor can I understand why anyone on a nature trail would need access to an auto parts warehouse.

It almost appears to have been a temporary bridge that was installed, used and forgotten.

If I ever find out what purpose this odd structure served, I will tell you here.

Facts

Overview: Pony truss bridge over Menomonee River on N. 50th Street in Milwaukee
Location: Milwaukee, Milwaukee County, Wisconsin
Status: FOUND! This elusive bridge is well hidden but extant behind private property.
History: Built 1976
Design: Pony truss
Dimensions: Length of largest span: 69.9 ft.
Total length: 70.9 ft.
Deck width: 12.8 ft.
Approximate latitude, longitude: +43.04300, -87.97660 (decimal degrees)
43°02'35" N, 87°58'36" W (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Inventory number: BH 34857 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 06/2006): Appraisal: Structurally deficient
Sufficiency rating: 17.0 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2004): 1