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

NS Des Moines River Bridge

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NS Des Moines River Bridge

This large through truss and steel stringer bridge carries a modern realignment of a former Wabash Railroad branch line over the Des Moines River alongside Iowa Highway 316 south of Runnells

Runnells, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Norfolk Southern Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1964

by

Unknown and L.G. Barcus Company of Kansas City, Missouri

for

Wabash Railroad and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad

Design:
3-188' Warren through trusses and 36-43' steel stringers

Description:
Warren through truss bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

Local

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

UP 2nd Avenue Bridge (Des Moines)

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UP 2nd Avenue Bridge (Des Moines)

(Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway Bridge #314)

This steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge carries a former Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway line over Iowa Highway 415 (2nd Avenue) and an unnamed creek on the north side of Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1942

by

Unknown

for

Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway

Design:
2-33' steel stringers and timber pile trestle

Description:
Steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge over Iowa Highway 415 (2nd Avenue) and unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

Chicago & North Western Railway Culvert #2115

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Chicago & North Western Railway Culvert #2115

This standard concrete box culvert carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway secondary line over an unnamed creek alongside Northwest 58th Street south of Sheldahl

Sheldahl, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1914

by

Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
6'x5' concrete box culvert

Description:
Concrete box culvert over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

IAIS 8th Street Bridge

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IAIS 8th Street Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3476)

This through plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over 8th Street (former US Highway 6) in Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1955

by

Unknown and Iowa Bridge Company of Des Moines, Iowa

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad

Design:
2-64' through plate girders and 4-35' steel stringers

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over 8th Street

Significance:

Minimal

Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2087

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Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2087

This steel stringer bridge carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway secondary line over an unnamed creek northeast 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:
18' steel stringer

Description:
Steel stringer bridge over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

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

C&NW Des Moines River Bridge

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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

Chichaqua Valley Trail - South Skunk River Bridge

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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

IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (North)

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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