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BNSF S. Avery Creek Bridge

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over South Avery Creek
Chillicothe, Wapello County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF S. Avery Creek Bridge
Built By Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Contractos Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 90 Feet 6 Inches Total
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1897/1898
Traffic Count 50 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 287.15
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2020


Located along High Street in Chillicothe, this fishbelly deck girder was built to replace an older through truss bridge across South Avery Creek.
Built in 1898, the bridge features a single span of double track deck plate girder, set onto stone abutments. The girders utilize a fishbelly design, due to the nature of the previous bridge. In addition, the bridge features a ballasted deck.
The replacement of the previous bridge with this structure was heavily documented in Railway and Engineering Review, July of 1897. The one of the previous trusses was sent to Worth, Missouri.
Presently, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. It is unknown why the plaque on the bridge states 1898, when the bridge was installed 1897. It is possible that the plaque was a misprint. It has been confirmed that the article shown is the South Avery Creek Bridge.

The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview. To read about the replacement process, check out this article.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Plaque
Contractor Plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele