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Neola Avenue Trail Bridge

Steel Stringer Bridge over Neola Avenue
Jefferson, Greene County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Neola Avenue Trail Bridge
Built By Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Greene County
Length 90 Feet, 55 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track, 2 Trail Lanes
Height Above Ground 13 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Steel Stringer and Timber Stringer
Substructure Type Concrete and Timber Pile
Date Built Ca. 1920
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails To Trails
MILW Bridge Number Y-198
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date (Photos 1-10) March 2013
Documentation Date (Photos 11-14) May 2017


This small steel stringer bridge crosses Neola Avenue south of Jefferson.
While the date stamp on the bridge reads 1902, that is clearly for a previous bridge. The current span is a long steel stringer which overhangs the former abutments by quite some distance. It is believed that it was installed in approximately 1950, while the span is clearly about 30 years older.
In addition to the steel stringer span, a single trestle span exists on either side. The bridge is set onto concrete and wooden substructures. The concrete abutments now serve as piers.
Unfortunately, no confirmation on the bridge can be found. It is also unknown if this steel stringer span was installed new or secondhand.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition. The concrete substructures have begun to completely crumble.

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