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Meservey Stone Arch

Stone Arch Bridge over Unnamed Stream
Meservey, Cerro Gordo County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Meservey Stone Arch
Built By Chicago Great Western Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Wright County
Length 8 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 5 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Stone Arch
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built Ca. 1900
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Abandoned)
Current Status Abandoned, Awaiting Trail Development
C&NW Bridge Number 81.42
UP Bridge Number 22.06
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date February 2020


Located in Meservey, this small stone arch bridge crosses an unnamed stream.
It is unknown when this bridge was built, although it was likely between 1898 and 1900. During this time, the CGW build hundreds of stone arches to replace trestle bridges. Many of these arches were very standardized, and built within only a few days. This structure is no exception.
Like most CGW arches, this one shows signs of wear and tear. It is unknown why CGW arches have a high rate of failure, but it may be related to the stone source. While not as severe as many others, the stones are beginning to loosen on the headwalls.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. This arch is in better condition than most other CGW spans. At some point, this arch will become part of the Prairie Land Trail.

The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design. In the early 2000s, Union Pacific resurveyed many lines in Iowa, leading to many bridges to change numbers just a few years before abandonment. For this reason, the original C&NW/CGW number and milepost are used in the name.
The photo above is an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

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