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UP Bridge #234.31

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Unnamed Creek
North of Seney, Plymouth County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Bridge #234.31
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Contractor (Superstructure) American Bridge Company of New York
Contractor (Substructure) Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 50 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1913
Traffic Count 4 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
C&NW Bridge Number 784
UP Bridge Number 234.31
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date November 2019


Located north of Seney alongside Iowa Highway 60, this deck girder bridge crosses an unnamed creek immediately west of the Floyd River. Despite being just south of the Plymouth/Sioux County line, the bridge is fully in Plymouth County, and thus has been listed under Seney instead of the closer Carnes.
Built in 1913, the bridge consists of a single deck girder span, set onto concrete substructures. It appears that the bridge has not been modified since constructed.
It is likely that this bridge was built to replace an older trestle. This type of bridge is common along this route for crossing small streams.
Fortunately, this was one of the few bridges along this route with an intact plaque.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with little notable serious deterioration. Despite this, cosmetic spalling has begun on the abutments.

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