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BNSF Court Avenue Bridge

Concrete Encased Beam Bridge over Court Avenue
Chariton, Lucas County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name BNSF Court Avenue Bridge
Built By Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad
Contractor Railroad Forces
Currently Owned By BNSF Railway
Length 96 Feet Total, 32 Foot Main Span
Width 2 Tracks
Height Above Ground 13 Feet 0 Inches
Superstructure Type Concrete Encased Beam and Concrete Slab
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1928
Traffic Count 50 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
BNSF Bridge Number 334.07
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date August 2019


Located in Chariton, this concrete slab bridge carries a busy BNSF mainline over Court Avenue.
Built in 1928, this bridge was built in response to the paving of US-34 through Lucas County. When US-34 was authorized in 1926, this was originally a grade crossing. However, after much delay, an overpass would be built in 1928.
The bridge features a concrete encased beam span, approached by two slab spans on either side. The entire bridge is set onto concrete substructures. Due to the low clearance of the bridge, it is notorious for hitting high clearance trucks.
While not decorative, the bridge is very functional and appears to be in good condition. Work began in April 1928, and was complete by mid-November of that year.

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

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Lucascountyan Blog
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele