The east entrance to the
Weissman Memorial Bridge |
Construction of the 16-span Milwaukee Road railroad bridge over the Missouri River at Great Falls began in January 1913 and was completed in May 1914. The bridge was part of flurry of Milwaukee construction, which included its lines to Lewistown, a new freight house, depot, roundhouse and yards.
The mainline connection to Missoula, which was planned in 1913, never materialized, and use of the bridge tailed off in the 1970s. By 1980, the Milwaukee Road was bankrupt and use of the bridge for train traffic ceased.
In the early 1980s, the bridge was acquired from Milwaukee trustees by Carl Weissman and Sons, then operated by Maurice B. and Leonard Weissman.
In October 1997, Jerry Weissman donated the bridge to the City of Great Falls to use as part of the River’s Edge Trail.
To be named the Maurice B. Weissman Memorial Bridge, the 86-year-old structure began renovation efforts in 2000, thanks to hundreds of donations to a “Planks for the Memories” campaign organized to raise money for the project. |
The Weissman Memorial Bridge
entrance looking east from the bridge
Conceptual drawings by David Cantley |
Bridge timbers that support the former upstream walkway were realigned to provide an anchor for new railings that will be added to both sides of the bridge. A Montana Conservation Corps crew worked on the bridge for more that two months during the summer of 2000. Other groups, including the Great Falls Home Builders Association, also helped with restoration. Work will continue spring 2001.
The eastern end of the steel span nearest River Drive will be lowered a foot to provide a more gentle grade transition from the existing sidewalk to the bridge deck. Rust and grime will be removed from the steel I-beams and bridge sections, and a new coat of black will be applied.
Footings for the entry towers planned for each end will be beefed up, and a new retaining wall at the west end will facilitate a smooth connection between the bridge and the West Bank Trail.
Donations are still needed for the “Planks of the Memories” campaign to complete renovation of the Maurice B. Weissman Memorial Bridge. A foot of new railing can be sponsored for $10 and new deck plank can be sponsored for $50.
Contributions can be sent to: Recreational Trails Inc. at P.O. Box 553, Great Falls, MT 59403-0553. Printable PDF donation form. If you don't have the FREE Acrabat Reader download it here.
|
