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IAIS 420th Street Bridge

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over 420th Street
Hancock, Pottawattamie County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name IAIS 420th Street Bridge
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Contractor (Main Span) American Bridge Company of New York
Contractor (Approach Spans) Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Currently Owned By Iowa Interstate Railroad
Length 153 Feet Total, 65 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Fabricated (Approach Girders) 1899
Date Erected 1952
Traffic Count 2 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
IAIS Bridge Number 460.3
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date October 2018


View an article regarding the construction of this route.

Located west of Hancock, this large girder bridge crosses 420th Street.
Built in 1952, the bridge consists of three deck girder spans. The center span was fabricated in 1952 and is original to this location. The approach spans were built in 1899, and came from an unknown location.
In addition, the approach girders are "twinned", creating a four girder span. It is unknown where these girders came from, or if they were all built in 1899. The bridge rests on concrete substructures.
The reuse of old parts in a new cutoff is a surprising find. This shows the desperation of the Rock Island to thrive.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition.

The author has ranked this bridge as locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Rebuilding of Line
Contractors Plaques on bridge
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele