Located just east of Creston, this girder bridge is the fourth and final crossing of Rapid Creek.
The original bridge at this location was a standard pile trestle. In 1924, it was decided that a permanent span needed to be installed, and an extra span from Bridge #O-246 in Appleton was used.
Little is known about the origin of this girder span. O-246 was built in 1900, and likely upgraded around 1913. No date stamps could be found on the bridge, and the girder spans there show no sign of alteration.
Further complicating the history is the existence of blueprints showing a shorter 50-foot span originally ordered in 1906 for the Pacific Extension, but later also deemed excess material. This blueprint shows that the span was intended to be used at O-246, but O-246 was scribbled out and replaced by Bridge #Y-136 at Jefferson, Iowa. Oddly enough, the 50 foot deck girder span on that bridge does not match these plans.
It is likely that the girder was originally ordered around 1920, but stored as excess after a double tracking or rebuilding project at O-246 was canceled. The author intends to investigate this further.
Construction on adding the first deck girder occurred over a 3 day period between October 8th and October 11th, 1924. At this time, engineers believed the bridge was sufficient for any future flooding.
By 1935, the engineers were proven wrong, and a second span was requested. Similar in design to the first, a 60-foot deck girder was taken from Bridge #Z-996A at Ferguson, Iowa. Originally built as a double track bridge in 1913 to cross South Timber Creek, the westbound track was taken up 1934, allowing reuse of that deck girder. Work began in May of that year to add that deck girder as the eastern span of this bridge.
Today, the bridge remains largely unchanged since the 1935 alteration.
Overall, the bridge remains in good condition. The bridge has an unknown future, as Rapid Creek is particularly notorious for flooding. It is possible that this bridge may be reopened to traffic in the future.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design. Further research is being sought to confirm the fabrication dates and contractors on the two deck girders.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge is easily accessible from a nearby road.