Located in the small town of Orchard, this deck girder bridge crosses Spring Creek.
Built in 1917, the bridge features three deck girder spans, set onto concrete substructures, and approached by a concrete slab span on either end.
These girders were originally part of a viaduct at Hyde Park on the south side of Chicago. Originally built in 1892 as part of preparations for the 1893 Chicago Worlds Fair, these were part of some of the first grade separations in Chicago.
It is unknown what specific viaduct(s) these spans were part of. Several other spans from Hyde Park were reused at other locations.
Railroads often reused spans that were in good condition on branch lines, or in case of emergency. However, there are a few secondhand spans on the branch lines in Iowa, indicating this was likely part of an overall improvement plan.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition. While the steel components of the bridge are in good condition, the concrete approaches are spalling.
The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.