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West Otter Creek Trail Bridge

Concrete Arch Bridge over West Otter Creek
Near Center Point, Linn County, Iowa

Click the Photo Above to See All Photos of This Bridge!
Name West Otter Creek Trail Bridge
Built By Waterloo, Cedar Falls & Northern Railway
Contractor Gould Construction Company of Davenport, Iowa
Currently Owned By Linn County
Length 100 Feet Total, 50 Foot Spans
Width 1 Track
Height Above Ground 15 Feet (Estimated)
Superstructure Type Concrete Arch
Substructure Type Concrete
Date Built 1914
Traffic Count 0 Trains/Day (Bridge is a Trail)
Current Status Rails to Trails
Significance Moderate Significance
Documentation Date March 2017


This large concrete arch bridge crosses West Otter Creek near Center Point.
While many other concrete arches were built along this line, nearly all have been destroyed. This structure is the sole remainder, along with the Brandon Trail Bridge.
Built in 1914, the bridge is the first structure at this location. However, the plaques have been removed from the bridge.
Consisting of a pair of concrete arch spans, this structure is one of the signature structures along the Cedar Valley Nature Trail.
Overall, the bridge remains in very good condition with little spalling or deterioration. It currently serves a trail.

The author has ranked this bridge as being moderately significant, due to the dying breed of WCF&N arches.
The photo above is an overview. The bridge can be easily accessed from the trail it carries.

Citations

Source Type

Source

Build Date Research by Luke Harden
Railroad Line History Source ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele