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UP Willow Creek Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Willow Creek
Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Willow Creek Bridge
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 266 Feet Total, 60 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder and Concrete Girder
Substructure Type Steel Pile
Date Built Ca. 1915, Approach Rebuilt Ca. 2000
Traffic Count 4 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
C&NW Bridge Number 801
UP Bridge Number 243.07
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date November 2019


Located near Le Mars Municipal Park, this through girder bridge crosses Willow Creek.
Built in approximately 1915, the bridge consists of a single through girder span, approached by two modular concrete spans on the south and six on the north. The bridge rests on concrete and steel pile substructures.
The original approaches were timber pile trestles. It is believed that these were upgraded in approximately 2000. This type of bridge is common along this route for crossing streams.
Unfortunately, the plaque on the bridge has been removed, meaning that no build date can be found. The author will conduct further research into this.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in good condition, with little notable deterioration.

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