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

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

Des Moines Red Bridge

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Des Moines Red Bridge

(Des Moines Union Railway Bridge)

This iconic through truss bridge carries the former Des Moines Union Railway mainline across the Des Moines River between Court Avenue and Vine Street in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: City of Des Moines

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1891, 1905 and 1945 and 2006

by

Detroit Bridge & Iron Works of Detroit, Michigan; Des Moines Bridge & Iron Works of Des Moines, Iowa; Stupp Brothers Bridge & Iron Company of St. Louis, Missouri and others

for

Des Moines Union Railway

Design:
2-152' Pratt through trusses, 1-78' through plate girder, 1-68' deck plate girder, 1-25' steel stringer and 1-45' steel stringer

Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

High

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

Great Western Trail - Frink Creek Culvert (North)

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Great Western Trail - Frink Creek Culvert (North)

(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #K214.45)

This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline and Southwest 42nd Street over Frink Creek on the south side of Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built c. 1900 and 1972

by

Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
10' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over Frink 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

IAIS Culvert #349.75

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IAIS Culvert #349.75

This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over an unnamed creek near Northeast 27th Avenue southwest of Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built c. 1875

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
6' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

IAIS Little Fourmile Creek Culvert (North)

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IAIS Little Fourmile Creek Culvert (North)

This stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over Little Fourmile Creek near Lions Park in Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built c. 1875

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
10' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over Little Fourmile Creek

Significance:

Local

IAIS Des Moines River Bridge

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IAIS Des Moines River Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3575)

This through plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over the Des Moines River at Vine Street in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1904

by

American Bridge Company of New York; Bates & Rogers Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois and Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
8-77' through plate girders

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

Local

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

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