Located along Missouri Highway 45 north of Iatan, this massive through girder bridge crosses Sugar Creek.
This line was double tracked in 1908, likely leading to the construction of this bridge. A stone pier or abutment still exists underneath the south end. It is believed that the second track was removed in 1958, although it may be rebuilt in the future due to the heavy traffic.
A missing American Bridge Company plaque strongly suggests that this bridge was built after 1908. Typically, this company used a rectangular plaque with two mounting holes prior to 1910, before using the more common shield shape after 1910.
The bridge currently consists of a massive skewed through plate girder, 130 feet in length. It is approached by concrete modular spans, which replaced the original trestle approaches in 2014. The main span actually is two separate spans, including a 98 foot span and a smaller 32 foot span. The bridge is supported by concrete and timber pile substructures.
This style bridge was common for crossing small creeks, as it was easy to construct and maintain. The author is currently investigating to confirm the 1908 build date.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no major deterioration.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.