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CN Catfish Creek Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Catfish Creek
Dubuque, Dubuque County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name CN Catfish Creek Bridge
Built By Illinois Central Railroad
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Canadian National Railway
Length 166 Feet Total, 60 Foot Largest Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1900, Extended 1921
Traffic Count 7 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
CN Bridge Number 186.4
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date April 2018


Located in Dubuque, this is the only crossing of Catfish Creek along this route. Despite this, there are over 20 crossings of the branches of Catfish Creek.
Originally built in 1900, the bridge was rebuilt in 1921. The eastern span of the bridge was original to 1900 and retained in the 1921 reconstruction. The two western spans were added at this time, likely to replace a truss. The bridge sits on concrete substructures.
Spans like this are common for crossing large creeks, as they make exceptionally good multiple span structures. There is a visible difference between the eastern span and the western two spans.
Currently, the bridge is owned by Canadian National. It is located underneath Rockdale Road.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no visible major deterioration.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date 1973 Illinois Central track profile
Contractor American Bridge Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele