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Riceville Trail Bridge

Concrete Encased Stone Arch Bridge over Watson Creek
Riceville, Howard County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Riceville Trail Bridge
Built By Chicago Great Western Railway
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Howard County
Length 20 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 6 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Concrete Encased Stone Arch
Substructure Type Stone Masonry
Date Built 1897, Later Encased
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails-to-Trails
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date July 2015 and April 2021


Located in the town of Riceville, this large arch bridge crosses Watson Creek.
Little is known about the history of this bridge. In a 1912 postcard, the bridge is constructed of concrete, probably the same concrete seen today. It is likely that the concrete was an encasement of an older stone structure.
However, an annual report from 1897 made note that an 800 foot long and 30 foot high trestle at Riceville was being filled. It seems highly likely that this is that structure, and it seems likely that the original arch underneath is made of stone.
Today, it is used as a trail. Unfortunately, the bridge appears to be in fair to poor condition, with serious structural issues along the walls, as well as spalling throughout the bridge.

The author has ranked the 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