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)

Image name

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

IAIS Culvert #349.75

Image name

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

C&NW Des Moines River Bridge

Image name

C&NW Des Moines River Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #K219.79)

This large Pratt through truss bridge once carried a Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over the Des Moines River between Southeast 1st Street and Southeast 6th Street in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: Removed but not replaced

Built 1901

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Shepard, Winston & Company of St. Paul, Minnesota

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
4-180' Pratt through trusses

Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

Regional

IAIS Des Moines River Bridge

Image name

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

RI Branch Little Fourmile Creek Culvert

Image name

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

Clive Greenbelt Trail - Walnut Creek Bridge

Image name

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

IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (North)

Image name

IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (North)

(Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Bridge #Y-12)

This Pratt pony truss bridge carries a former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) branch line over Walnut Creek in Clive

Clive, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Norfolk Southern Railway

Status: Abandoned

Built 1902 and 1943

by

Unknown and Thorgerson & Ericksen Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
104' Pratt pony truss and timber pile trestle

Description:
Pratt pony truss bridge over Walnut Creek

Significance:

Moderate

Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K228.62

Image name

Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K228.62

This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over an unnamed creek near Northeast 62nd Avenue east of Berwick

Berwick, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

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 (South)

Image name

Great Western Trail - Frink Creek Culvert (South)

(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #K213.32)

This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over Frink Creek near Willow Creek Avenue 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

by

Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
7' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over Frink Creek

Significance:

Local

Chichaqua Valley Trail - South Skunk River Bridge

Image name

Chichaqua Valley Trail - South Skunk River Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Bridge #K239.05)

This large deck plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over the South Skunk River between Santiago and Valeria

Santiago, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1921 and 1928

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
4-70' deck plate girders and timber pile trestle

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over South Skunk River

Significance:

Local