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DM&E Duck Creek Bridge (Bellevue)

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Duck Creek
Bellevue, Jackson County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name DM&E Duck Creek Bridge (Bellevue)
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railroad
Contractor (South Girder) Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of Milwaukee
Currently Owned By Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad
Length 161 Feet Total, 42 Foot Largest Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder and Steel Stringer
Substructure Type Concrete and Steel Tower
Date Built Ca. 1930; North Spans Replaced Ca. 1975
Date Fabricated (South Span) 1913
Traffic Count 8 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
MILW Bridge Number K-42
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date April 2018


Located south of Bellevue, this girder bridge crosses Duck Creek along US-52.
Built in approximately 1930, much is unknown about the bridge. It is known that it was originally built with four girder spans, including a relocated 1913 deck girder on the south end. In approximately 1975, the bridge was upgraded and the northern spans replaced with new beam spans.
Today, the bridge consists of the 1913 girder, as well as three modern beam spans. This bridge sits on concrete and steel substructures.
It is unknown where the southern girder may have come from. Listed as 35 feet long, there were many double track 35 foot girders built in 1913 on mainlines in Iowa and Minnesota that would've had a second track removed in the early 1930s.
Currently, the bridge is owned by Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern. It appears that the girder has been rebuilt with larger flanges.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with little major deterioration.

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 Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company plaque
Contractor Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele