logo

DM&E Little Lime Creek Bridge

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Little Lime Creek
Portland, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name DM&E Little Lime Creek Bridge
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Currently Owned By Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad
Length 47 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 5 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1899, Moved Here 1902
Original Location Bridge #L-178; Wacouta, Minnesota
Traffic Count 4 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
MILW Bridge Number R-368
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date July 2019


Located east of Portland near Ulmus Avenue, this small deck girder bridge crosses Little Lime Creek.
Built in 1902 using a secondhand span, this structure features a single deck plate girder span, set onto concrete substructures. Unfortunately, the plaque on this bridge has been ripped off.
The bridge was originally built in 1899 at Bridge #L-178 near Wacouta, Minnesota. In 1902, that bridge was replaced and the span reused here.
This type of span was commonly used to cross small creeks, because of the ease of installation, cheap cost and little maintenance required.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with little deterioration.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Milwaukee Road Archives at the Milwaukee Central Library
Contractor Plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele