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Abandoned Cheslea Creek Bridge

Abandoned I-Beam Bridge over Cheslea Creek
Mason City, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Abandoned Cheslea Creek Bridge
Built By Chicago Great Western Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Cerro Gordo County
Length 79 Feet Total, 28 Foot Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 8 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Steel and Tiber Stringer
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built Ca. 1920
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is Abandoned)
Current Status Abandoned
UP Bridge Number 1.38
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2015


Located south of Mason City, this small steel stringer bridge crosses Cheslea Creek.
Built in approximately 1920, likely to replace an older trestle, this bridge features a pair of steel stringer spans, supported by timber stringer spans on either side. The entire bridge rests on concrete substructures.
Spans like this are common to cross small creeks, because of the simplicity to install as well as the durability.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in excellent condition. It is planned to become part of a trail.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Estimated based on similar bridges
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele