Rosalia Railroad Bridge

Rosalia Railroad Bridge
U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Location	crosses Washington State Route 271
Nearest city	Rosalia, Washington
Coordinates	47°13′20″N 117°21′47″W
Built	1915
Architectural style	concrete arch
MPS	Historic Bridges/Tunnels in Washington State TR
NRHP reference No.	82004310
Added to NRHP	July 16, 1982

The Rosalia Railroad Bridge was built by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (also known as the Milwaukee Road) in 1915 to replace an earlier timber trestle. The bridge was designed as a concrete arch, unusual for a railroad bridge, because it crosses the Northern Pacific Railroad tracks (a rival railroad), a state highway, and is visible from Steptoe Battlefield State Park. The railroad wanted an impressive-looking bridge. The viaduct consists of two spans, separated by an embankment. East of the 334-foot (102 m) embankment there is a 114-foot (35 m) span crossing over the Northern Pacific tracks. To the west is a 502-foot (153 m) span that crosses Pine Creek, railroad tracks, and the highway.

When the Milwaukee Road went bankrupt in the 1980s. the bridge and right-of-way were acquired by the State of Washington.

The bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places due to its design.

The western bridge, seen from the highway

The eastern bridge, seen from the south

References

• Soderberg, Lisa. Historic Bridges and Tunnels in Washington State Thematic Resources. National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. On file at the National Park Service, Washington DC.
• Soderberg, Lisa. Rosalia Railroad Bridge. HAER Inventory, Historic American Engineering Record, on file at the National Park Service, Washington, DC.