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Berwick Trail Bridge

I-Beam and Trestle Bridge over Fourmile Creek
Berwick, Polk County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name Berwick Trail Bridge
Built By Chicago Great Western Railroad
Contractor Unknown
Currently Owned By Polk County Conservation
Length 210 Feet Total, 50 Foot Main Span
Width 1 Track, 2 Trail Lanes
Height Above Ground 20 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type I-Beam and Wooden Trestle
Substructure Type Timber Pile
Date Built Ca. 1930
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails to Trails
CGW Bridge Number Unknown
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date April 2014 (Photos 1-4); April 2017 (Photos 5-21)
A brief history of the Chicago Great Western route to Kansas City:


06/26/21


A standard bridge, this structure crosses Fourmile Creek in Berwick.
Reportedly built in 1937, this bridge consists of a single I-Beam span, approached by trestle spans. The bridge was converted to trail usage in 2015.
Despite an arson prior to trail construction, the bridge remains in good condition. The bridge is entirely set onto wooden substructures.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design of the bridge.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be accessed from the trail which it carries.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Estimated based on similar bridges
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele



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