Fort Dodge High Bridge

One of the most massive bridges in Central Iowa crosses high above the Des Moines River and a neighborhood in Fort Dodge.
Construction on the bridge began in 1901. The rationale for the bridge was to avoid the large grades that would otherwise be required in Fort Dodge.
By 1902, the bridge would be complete and open for service. The west approach consists of 11 spans, resting on large steel towers. The east approach consists of 19 spans of the same design.
The four main spans of the bridge are massive Baltimore Deck Trusses. These trusses consist of 7 panels each, with pinned connections.
Another unique piece of the bridge is the towers on which the trusses sit. These rest on large stone piers below. The approach towers rest on simple stone bases.
The bridge not only crosses the Des Moines River, but also several streets and a Canadian National rail yard.
The Des Moines River Valley has had several large high bridges, past and present. This is one of the larger structures.
In this area, the Kate Shelley High Bridge in Boone County gets the most recognition. However, the Fort Dodge structure is longer than the Kate Shelley Bridge, and has four trusses compared to one.

Historic photo of the bridge

The author has ranked this bridge as being nationally significant, due to the uncommon design, and the overall imposing nature of this structure.
The photo above is an overview of the bridge. The photo below is a photo of a pier. It can be accessed from nearby roads.