The most unique railroad bridge in Ames is this structure, which carries the Union Pacific mainline across the South Skunk River.
The bridge was originally built in 1900 as a replacement for a single track bridge. It is likely that the girders were fabricated in approximately 1898. Two spans were replaced in 1949 with a larger span, possibly due to scouring of the center pier or the need for channel improvements.
In response, American Bridge Company was contracted to rebuild the structure. A large deck girder span was installed, along with I-Beams on either side. On the west end, a single deck girder remained of the original bridge.
The bridge currently sits on both concrete and stone substructures. The concrete substructures are of a design commonly seen on 50s bridges.
The author has ranked the bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design but unique history.
The photo above is an overview. The structure can be accessed from the pedestrian trail underneath.
| Upstream | Ellsworth Railroad Bridge |
| Downstream | UP S. Skunk River Bridge (Cambridge) |