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CIC Clear Creek Bridge (Old)

Lost Through Girder Bridge over Clear Creek
Coralville, Johnson County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name CIC Clear Creek Bridge (Old)
Built By Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway
Contractor American Bridge Company of New York
Currently Owned By Nobody (Bridge has been removed)
Length 120 Feet
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Type Through Plate Girder
Date Built 1903
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge Has Been Removed)
Current Status Replaced by a New Bridge
CIC Bridge Number Unknown
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date August 2013
In the summer of 1903, construction began on the Cedar Rapids & Iowa City Railway between the two points in the name.
With the line officially opening in 1904, it became critical for passenger service. Freight service was also major.
With the railroad finding a major success, they completed lines to Mount Vernon and Lisbon in 1914.

The line to Mount Vernon and Lisbon was abandoned in 1928 due to a lack of success. It was clear the railroad found success between the two namesake cities, but branch lines would fail.
In 1953 passenger service was discontinued.
With the railroad still going strong in 1980, they acquired former Milwaukee Road tracks through Amana, and the former Rock Island from Iowa City to Hills.

By 1984, the CRandIC invested in the former Rock Island Mainline, now Iowa Interstate.
Today, the railroad is going strong and is one of the top short lines in the Nation. In the past years, them bridge over the Cedar River at Cedar Rapids was replaced, same with the Clear Creek Bridge in Coralville due to the massive flood of 2008, which nearly devastated the railroad.
Today, the railroad operates 60 miles of main track and 40 of industry track.
06/26/21


Formerly crossing Clear Creek in Coralville was this single through girder bridge.
Built in 1903, the bridge was in place for 110 years until a new structure was built.
This bridge was the predecessor of the 37 Million Dollar Bridge that currently stands.
This bridge was replaced in 2013 due to a major flood on Clear Creek in 2008. This flood destroyed a lot near the bridge, and one major cause of the flood was this structure.
With many agencies and groups working together, a new structure would be built approximately 10 feet higher than the old structure.
At the end of its life, this bridge was in fair condition. The concrete abutments had begun to show signs of serious structural flaws.

The author has ranked this bridge as being locally significant, due to the common design.
The photo above was an overview.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Construction of Route
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele



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