Riverdale Park Trail Bridge

Located in Sioux Falls, this quadrangular lattice through truss bridge is located near I-229 in Riverdale Park. Little is known about the history of this bridge. The previous bridge at this location was likely a wooden truss bridge. In approximately 1930, a secondhand 110-foot quadrangular lattice through truss span was installed at this location, and new concrete piers and wooden trestle approaches constructed. It is unknown where the truss was originally located, but a plaque on the bridge indicates that the truss was fabricated in 1888 by Lassig Bridge & Iron Works. The Rock Island utilized the quadrangular lattice truss span at times, particularly for bridges built between 1885 and 1900. The truss span is typical of a late 1880s quadrangular lattice trusses fabricated by Lassig Bridge & Iron Works, featuring a pedimented lattice portal, with standard cutout heel bracings. Railroads often reused iron and steel spans, as it was a cost effective way to replace bridges. Overall, the bridge appears to be in fair to good condition, with no significant deterioration noted. The author has ranked the bridge as being regionally significant, due to the truss design and older age.