This beautiful through truss bridge crosses the W. Nishnabotna River south of Avoca.
The bridge sits on private land. After the rails were removed, a local farmer purchased the spans to access his fields.
Currently, bridge is comprised of a single Quadrangular Through Truss span with riveted connections. This span features a very lightweight construction, with typical portals seen on Lassig Bridge & Iron Works structures. In addition, the structure is approached by wooden trestle on either side and sits on timber pile substructures.
Unfortunately, the history of the bridge is largely unknown. It appears this span dates to approximately 1885, as it is lighter than a typical 1890s truss of this design. It is also likely that it was moved from another location, possibly after a replacement or double tracking project.
Regardless, this bridge appears to be in good condition.
The author has ranked this bridge as being regionally significant, due to the old design of the truss. This bridge should be preserved at all costs.
The photo above is looking north across the bridge. It was accessed by asking permission from the owner at the end of Sycamore Road.
A special thank you is in order to the owner, who allowed me to access this bridge!