A High Ride

super-high abandoned rail bridge to become trail piece

Tom Giffey, photos by Andrea Paulseth |

OH, DAM. The “high bridge” near the Xcel dam in downtown Eau Claire will soon carry a multiuse trail.
OH, DAM. The “high bridge” near the Xcel dam in downtown Eau Claire will
soon carry a multiuse trail.

Since the early 1990s when the railroad abandoned it, the only way to enjoy the panoramic view from the so-called “high bridge” over the Chippewa River in downtown Eau Claire has been to trespass. Even if you’re among the authorized personnel allowed past the “DANGER KEEP OFF” sign, strolling onto the towering, handrail-less bridge just downstream of the Xcel Energy dam isn’t for the faint of heart. “I walked out about 25 feet once, and that’s all I can handle – and I used to skydive,” admits Phil Fieber, Eau Claire parks and recreation director.

Those of us too law-abiding – and chicken – to venture onto the century-old bridge should be happy to learn that, by the end of the year, it will be transformed into a bike and pedestrian pathway that will eventually link to Eau Claire’s already extensive trail system.

Those of us too law-abiding – and chicken – to venture onto the century-old bridge should be happy to learn that, by the end of the year, it will be transformed into a bike and pedestrian pathway that will eventually link to Eau Claire’s already extensive trail system. If plans proceed as anticipated, the Eau Claire City Council is expected to approve bids for the project in late June. After that the state Department of Transportation must OK the project – which will be primarily funded by a DOT grant – and work is expected to start by mid-August with completion by Dec. 1.

The city has budgeted $560,000 to upgrade the bridge and its approach, which will involve demolishing two old railroad bridges over Forest Street. The state will cover $480,000 of that total, Fieber said, leaving the city to pay $120,000 ($40,000 has already been spent on design). When completed, the decking and railings of the bridge will resemble those of the “S” bridge over the Eau Claire river near Banbury Place, he said.

The bridge rehabilitation will go hand-in-hand with the construction of a new bike and pedestrian trail to the west. The trail will follow the old railroad right-of-way, extending about 1 mile toward Roosevelt Elementary School and the Nestle plant near Truax Boulevard on the city’s northwest side. The trail construction will piggyback (literally) on top of a new stormwater pipe that will lead to the Chippewa River, which means its cost will be covered by the city’s stormwater utility, Fieber added. The surface will be 2-inch-thick asphalt, similar to other bike trails in the city.

The deck truss bridge, built in 1898, was part of the Chicago and North Western Railway (which was later bought out by the Union Pacific), and was abandoned in the early 1990s. The steel bridge – which was designed to hold massive steam locomotives, not bikers and joggers – remains structurally sound, Fieber said.

After this year’s project is completed, the new trail and newly opened bridge will connect to Forest Street. Eventually, the city trail system will be extended along the Chippewa River behind the city shop and the parks maintenance building toward a connection with the rest of the city’s trail system at Phoenix Park. The latter project will have to wait for the future, Fieber said, but we’ll be able to enjoy a new addition to the trails – and a new view of the river from on high – before 2014 is out.