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

IAIS Fourmile Creek Bridge

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IAIS Fourmile Creek Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3531)

This deck plate girder bridge is the northern of two similar bridges carrying a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) line over Fourmile Creek on the east side of Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1902 and 1912

by

American Bridge Company of New York and Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
5-44' deck plate girders

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Fourmile Creek

Significance:

Local

Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2081

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Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2081

This steel stringer bridge carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway secondary line over a farm road east of Polk City

Polk City, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built 1914

by

Unknown and Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois

for

Chicago & North Western Railway

Design:
20' steel stringer

Description:
Steel stringer bridge over farm road

Significance:

Local

IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (Ashworth Park)

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IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (Ashworth Park)

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3611)

This Warren through truss bridge once carried a Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over Walnut Creek near Ashworth Park in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: Replaced by a new bridge; West span In Use

Built 1901 and 1908

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway and Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway

Design:
113' Warren through truss and 44' deck plate girder

Description:
Warren through truss bridge over Walnut Creek

Significance:

Moderate

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

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 - 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

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

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

Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K228.62

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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

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