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BNSF Bridge #444.70

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Unnamed Tributary of Mosquito Creek
Portsmouth, Shelby County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Bridge #444.70
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 138 Feet Total, 70 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder, Steel Stringer and Trestle
Substructure Type Timber and Steel Pile
Date Built 1941
Date Fabricated (Main span) Ca. 1890
Original Location (Main Span) Unknown
Traffic Count 2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 444.70
MILW Bridge Number Z-1470
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date March 2021


Located north of Portsmouth, this unique deck girder bridge crosses an unnamed tributary of Mosquito Creek.
Built in 1941, the bridge uses a secondhand main span, a smaller steel stringer span and a trestle approach. The bridge is set onto steel and timber pile piers.
The main span of the bridge appears to be an old deck girder, which has been heavily modified. It is expected that this span may date to the 1890s or before. It is approached by the 1941 era stringer span to the north, and some ballasted deck trestle to the south.
It is currently unknown where the main span was moved from. Research on this bridge is ongoing.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview. The author intends to do more research into the history of this bridge.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Milwaukee Road Archives at the Milwaukee Central Library
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele