logo

IANR Clarksville Millrace Bridge

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Clarksville Millrace
Clarksville, Butler County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name IANR Clarksville Millrace Bridge
Built By Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Iowa Northern Railway
Length 30 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1898
Traffic Count 3 Trains/Day
Current Status In Use
IANR Bridge Number 178.2
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date February 2020


Located on the south side of Clarksville, this deck girder bridge crosses the Clarksville Millrace, a swamp and creek that appears to be an old oxbow of the Shell Rock River.
Built in 1898, the bridge features a single deck girder span, set onto stone masonry abutments. The girder is unusual, as it has no ribs at the middle of the span. Judging by a 1914 postcard, the millrace used to have significantly more water in it.
historic postcard
1914 postcard photo

This type of small span is common along former BCR&N lines, due to the ease of construction and the permanent nature of the bridge.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with no significant defects noted.

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 Date Carving
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele