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DM&E Mason Creek Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Mason Creek
Portland, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name DM&E Mason Creek Bridge
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Contractor Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of Milwaukee
Currently Owned By Dakota, Minnesota & Eastern Railroad
Length 65 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1907 using a span fabricated 1897
Original Location Bridge #Z-994; Ferguson, Iowa
Traffic Count 4 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
MILW Bridge Number R-372
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date July 2019


Located west of Portland near Spruce Avenue, this small through girder bridge crosses Mason Creek.
Built in 1907 using a secondhand span, this structure features a single through plate girder span, set onto concrete substructures.
This span was originally built in 1897 at Bridge #Z-994; Ferguson, Iowa. In 1906, that bridge was replaced by a new deck girder span, and the girder was 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. It appears some rivets have been replaced with bolts since the original construction.

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 Milwaukee Road Archives at the Milwaukee Public Library
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele