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CN Boyer River Bridge #9

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Boyer River
Logan, Harrison County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name CN Boyer River Bridge #9
Built By Illinois Central Railroad
Contractor (North and Center Spans) American Bridge Works of Chicago
Contractor (South Span) American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Canadian National Railway
Length 225 Feet Total, 91 Foot Largest Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder and Trestle
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built (Center and North Spans) 1899
Date Built (South Span) 1928
Traffic Count 2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
CN Bridge Number 483.3
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date March 2021


Located in Logan, this multiple span girder bridge is the ninth crossing of the Boyer River.
The original bridge here was a three span through girder bridge, built in 1899. However, this bridge was upgraded several times.
The current bridge is built of three distinct spans. The southern span was built in 1928 by American Bridge Company, and installed here in 1957. This span was relocated from an unknown location. The center span was built in 1899 by American Bridge Works, and either was shorted by three feet or moved from elsewhere, likely along this line. The north span was also built in 1899, and is believed to be original to this location.
The substructures for this bridge are all concrete. The north (railroad east) abutment is original to the 1899 bridge, while the north pier was rebuilt in 1950, the south pier in 1953 and the south abutment in 1957.
It is not unusual for a Boyer River Bridge on this line to have such an unusual series of spans. When the Boyer River was channelized, many crossings were either filled or rebuilt. The filled crossings oftentimes seem to have donated spans to other locations.
Overall, the bridge is in fair to good condition. The superstructure appears to be healthy, as does the substructure. The biggest issue is the south abutment, which has bare pilings exposed.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date 1973 Illinois Central Track Profile
Contractors Plaques
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele