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UP Wolf Creek Bridge

Through Plate Girder Bridge over Wolf Creek
North of Le Mars, Plymouth County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name UP Wolf Creek Bridge
Built By Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapolis & Omaha Railway
Contractor (Superstructure) Minneapolis Steel & Machinery Company of Minneapolis
Contractor (Substructure) Gustaf Widdell & Co. of Mankato, Minnesota
Currently Owned By Union Pacific Railroad
Length 60 Feet Total
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 5 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Through Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1911
Traffic Count 4 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
C&NW Bridge Number 797
UP Bridge Number 241.03
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date November 2019


Located north of Le Mars, this through girder bridge crosses Wolf Creek alongside Iowa Highway 60.
Built in 1911, the bridge consists of a single through girder span, set onto concrete substructures. This 60 foot span is typical for this line.
It is likely that this bridge was built to replace an older trestle. This type of bridge is common along this route for crossing streams.
Unfortunately, no plaque was found on the bridge, 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 Chicago & North Western Railway Historical Society Archives
Contractors Chicago & North Western Railway Historical Society Archives
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele