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UP Maynes Creek Bridge (Bradford)

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Maynes Creek
Bradford, Franklin County, Iowa

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Name UP Maynes Creek Bridge (Bradford)
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 227 Feet Total, 80 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 30 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Girder
Substructure Type Concrete Steel Pile
Date Fabricated (Approach Girders) Ca. 1905
Date Erected Ca. 1913, Rebuilt Ca. 1983
Traffic Count 15 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
UP Bridge Number 157.60
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date September 2017


Located north of Bradford, this large deck girder bridge crosses Maynes Creek near 90th Street.
Originally built around 1913 as a trestle and deck girder structure, it was rebuilt around 1983 with a number of secondhand girder spans from other locations. Currently, the bridge contains five deck girder spans, set onto concrete and steel pile piers.
These girder spans were likely built at various locations in the first decade of the 20th century. Reusing scrap spans was a common method to save costs.
Most of this bridges history is unknown. Based on the piers and main girder, it appears that this span was probably built in 1913, during the initial building of the line.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition. Unfortunately, information on this bridge will likely be hard to come by.

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