Sylvan Slough Railroad Bridge
Mississippi River Crossing At Rock Island
Rock Island, Illinois

Sylvan Slough Railroad Bridge

• Structure ID:  
• Location: River Mile 484.1.
• River Elevation: 545 Feet.
• Railroad: Iowa Interstate Railroad.
• Daily Traffic Count: 3 Trains Per Day (Estimated).
• Bridge Type: Pony Plate Girder.
• Length: 602 Feet Overall, 90 Foot Longest Span.
• Width: 2 Tracks.
• Navigation Channel Width: Non-Navigable.
• Height Above Water:: 22 Feet.
• Date Built: Completed 1924.
This bridge is the secondary river crossing over Sylvan Slough that is part of the same Mississippi River crossing as the Government Bridge located just to the north. This is the site of the first full crossing of the Mississippi River, and the site of serveral earlier crossings to Arsenal Island. This includes an 1854, which was destroyed by ice, an 1870 iron bridge, and an 1894 steel truss bridge.

This bridge consists of six pony plate girder spans of 105 feet each, plus a single deck plate girder span of 75 feet. The bridge appears to be relatively light in structure compared to the massive Government Bridge that is part of the same crossing.


Sylvan Slough Railroad Bridge
Sylvan Slough Railroad Bridge
Sylvan Slough Railroad Bridge
Sylvan Slough Railroad Bridge

Home  Return To Upper Mississippi River Bridges Home Page
Photo and text by John A. Weeks III, Copyright © 2005, all rights reserved.
For further information, contact: john@johnweeks.com