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UP Otter Creek Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Otter Creek
Ashton, Osceola County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Otter Creek Bridge
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 195 Feet Total, 65 Foot Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built Ca. 1910
Traffic Count 4 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
C&NW Bridge Number 718
UP Bridge Number 202.37
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date November 2019


Located south of Ashton, this large through girder bridge crosses Otter Creek along Iowa Highway 60. It is one of the larger structures on the Mankato-Sioux City segment of this line.
Built in approximately 1910, the bridge consists of three through girder spans, set onto concrete substructures. These through girders appear to follow a standard design for this line.
It is likely that this bridge replaced an older truss bridge of some sort. Unfortunately, like many bridges along this route, the plaques on the bridge have been taken. The author intends to conduct more research on this structure.
Otter Creek is relatively wide at this location, requiring a large bridge to cross it.
Overall, the bridge is in fair to good condition. The superstructure appears to be excellent, while the substructures have more deterioration.

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