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

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 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

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

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 Walnut Creek Bridge (South)

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IAIS Walnut Creek Bridge (South)

(Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Bridge #Y-8)

This abandoned Pratt pony truss bridge carries a former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) branch line over Walnut Creek near Grand Avenue and 63rd Street in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Norfolk Southern Railway

Status: Abandoned

Built 1917 using a span fabricated 1897

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin

for

Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway

Design:
106' Pratt pony truss and timber pile trestle

Description:
Pratt pony truss bridge over Walnut Creek

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 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

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

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