stopping a train. The La Crosse Rail Bridge has taken a significant amount of abuse over the years. In 2011, it was ranked fourth in most boat-related collisions out of 22 states, 7,500 miles of railway and 1,200 other bridges. One incident was as recent as July 22, 2011, when a barge clipped the side of the bridge and halted river traffic. The Winona bridge became part of the Chicago and Northwestern system. That bridge was used until 1977. The Chicago and Northwestern gained trackage rights to use the La Crosse Rail Bridge. The C & NW successor, Union Pacific, accesses in this manner from Tomah to Winona. Proposed alteration The Coast Guard has proposed alterations to the bridge. The proposed plan would remove the swing bridge and install a lift span and create a 65-foot clearance and open a 300-foot wide lane for the boats. The alterations would move the bridge opening away from the shore line to the center of the channel. The Coast Guard has dropped plans to alter the bridge. Gallery See also List of crossings of the Upper Mississippi River References Bibliography External links Truss bridges in the United States Swing bridges in the United States Railroad bridges in Minnesota Railroad bridges in Wisconsin Bridges over the Mississippi River Bridges completed in 1876 Canadian Pacific Railway bridges in the United States Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad Buildings and structures in Houston County, Minnesota Buildings and structures in La Crosse, Wisconsin Interstate railroad bridges in the United States