Railroad Bridges in Polk County, Iowa


Polk County is located in central Iowa. The seat and largest city are both Des Moines, the Capital of Iowa.

Random Bridges

UP Des Moines River Bridge (Des Moines)

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UP Des Moines River Bridge (Des Moines)

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #723)

This subdivided Warren through truss bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over the Des Moines River in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1920

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
3-153' subdivided Warren through trusses

Description:
Subdivided Warren through truss bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

Moderate

Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2103

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Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2103

This steel stringer bridge carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway secondary line over an unnamed creek alongside Northwest 58th Street north of Polk City

Polk City, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1913

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
24' steel stringer

Description:
Steel stringer bridge over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

IAIS 80th Street Bridge

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IAIS 80th Street Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3456)

This deck plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over Northeast 80th Street and Mud Creek east of Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1901

by

American Bridge Company of New York (Lassig Plant)

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
66' deck plate girder

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Northeast 80th Street and Mud Creek

Significance:

Local

Chichaqua Valley Trail - Ditch 38 Bridge

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Chichaqua Valley Trail - Ditch 38 Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Bridge #K239.39)

This steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over Polk County Ditch #38 between Santiago and Valeria

Santiago, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built c. 1940

by

Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
30' steel stringer and timber pile trestle

Description:
Steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge over Polk County Ditch #38

Significance:

Minimal

Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K226.48

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Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K226.48

This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over an unnamed creek near Northeast 29th Street southwest of Berwick

Berwick, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Abandoned

Built c. 1900

by

Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
4' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

RI Branch Little Fourmile Creek Culvert

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RI Branch Little Fourmile Creek Culvert

This small concrete arch culvert carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) secondary line over an unnamed creek west of Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Department of Transportation

Status: Abandoned

Built 1896

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
10' concrete arch culvert

Description:
Concrete arch culvert over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

Inter-Urban Trail Bridge

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Inter-Urban Trail Bridge

(Wakonsa Bridge)

This historic Pratt through truss bridge carries a former Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway mainline across the Des Moines River downstream from Euclid Avenue in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: City of Des Moines

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1905 using spans fabricated c. 1885

by

Unknown

for

Inter-Urban Railway

Design:
4-125' Pratt through trusses and timber stringer

Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

High

IAIS Camp Creek Tributary Bridge

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IAIS Camp Creek Tributary Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3493)

This deck plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) secondary line over an unnamed tributary of Camp Creek southwest of Mitchellville

Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built c. 1955 using spans fabricated 1903 and 1907

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
1-68' and 2-44' deck plate girders and timber pile trestle

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over unnamed tributary of Camp Creek

Significance:

Local

Chichaqua Valley Trail - Fourmile Creek Bridge

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Chichaqua Valley Trail - Fourmile Creek Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #K227.65)

This steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over Fourmile Creek in Berwick

Berwick, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built c. 1960

by

Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
50' steel stringer and timber pile trestle

Description:
Steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge over Fourmile Creek

Significance:

Minimal

Clive Greenbelt Trail - Walnut Creek Bridge

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Clive Greenbelt Trail - Walnut Creek Bridge

(Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Bridge #Y-22)

This unique through plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) branch line over Walnut Creek at Campbell Park in Clive

Clive, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: City of Clive

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1917 using a span fabricated 1889

by

Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
65' through plate girder and timber pile trestle

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Walnut Creek

Significance:

Moderate