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IAIS Bulger Creek Bridge (East)

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Bulger Creek
Van Meter, Dallas County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name IAIS Bulger Creek Bridge (East)
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Currently Owned By Iowa Interstate Railroad
Length 110 Feet Total, 55 Foot Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 10 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built Ca. 1899
Traffic Count 4 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
RI Bridge Number 3785
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date February 2020


Located west of Van Meter, this bridge is the third and eastern crossing of Bulger Creek.
It is likely that this bridge was built in approximately 1899-1900, as many bridges along this route were. The bridge features two deck girder spans, set onto concrete substructures.
The design of the bridge is simple, and commonly seen crossing small to medium size water bodies, due to the ease of construction.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. It looks like the bridge may have received a new deck in the 2010s.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Estimated
Contractor Missing plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele