logo

IANR Mud Creek Bridge (La Porte City)

Deck Plate Girder Bridge over Mud Creek
La Porte City, Black Hawk County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name IANR Mud Creek Bridge (La Porte City)
Built By Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Contractor Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago
Currently Owned By Iowa Northern Railway
Length 114 Feet Total, 60 Foot Largest Span
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 5 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Deck Plate Girder
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Fabricated 1896 and 1898
Date Erected Ca. 1930
Traffic Count 4 Trains/Day (Estimated)
Current Status In Use
IANR Bridge Number 138.5
Significance Local Significance
Documentation Date May 2018


Located north of La Porte City along US-218, this bridge features a pair of deck girder spans.
Built in approximately 1930, it is known that the bridge is constructed using two secondhand spans. These spans date to 1896 and 1898, although it is unknown where they came from. They rest on concrete substructures.
Reusing spans was a common way for railroads to save money. Oftentimes, these spans would be strengthened upon relocation.
Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair condition. The bridge was rebuilt in 2011 to replace failing components.

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 Iowa Northern Railway bridge records
Contractor Missing Lassig Bridge & Iron Works plaque
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele