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CN Oak Avenue Bridge (Webster City)

Concrete Arch Bridge over Oak Avenue
Webster City, Hamilton County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name CN Oak Avenue Bridge (Webster City)
Built By Illinois Central Railroad
Contractor W.D. Faus of Webster City, Iowa
Currently Owned By Canadian National Railway
Length 20 Feet (Estimated)
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 13 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Concrete Arch
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1902
Traffic Count 3 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
CN Bridge Number 354.7
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date October 2017


This common concrete arch bridge crosses Oak Avenue, on the east side of Webster City.
The bridge was built in 1902 during a time of rebuilding for this line. It consists of a single closed spandrel concrete arch.
In a visually deteriorated state, the bridge likely will be a candidate for replacement in the next couple of decades. The spalling along the exterior of the concrete is an issue for safety.
Otherwise, the bridge utilizes a crescent shape, compared to the horseshoe shape of other arches.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be accessed from the road below.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Illinois Central 1972 Iowa Division Track Profile
Builder Illinois Central Bridge Notes at the National Archives; College Park, Maryland
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele