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| Name | Riverdale Park Trail Bridge |
| Built By | Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway |
| Currently Owned By | City of Sioux Falls |
| Superstructure Contractor | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago |
| Substructure Contractor | Unknown |
| Length | 402 Feet Total, 110 Foot Main Span |
| Width | 1 Track |
| Height Above Ground | 20 Feet (Estimated) |
| Superstructure Design | Quadrangular Lattice Through Truss and Timber Pile Trestle |
| Substructure Design | Concrete and Timber Pile |
| Date Built | c. 1930 Using a Span Fabricated 1888 |
| Traffic Count | 0 Vehicles Per Day (Bridge is a Trail) |
| Current Status | Open to Trail Traffic |
| Significance | Regional Significance |
| Documentation Date | 12/30/2014 |
In 1886, the Cedar Rapids, Iowa Falls & Northwestern Railway (CRIF&NW) constructed 42-mile branch line, extending from Ellsworth, Minnesota, through Rock Rapids, Iowa, to Sioux Falls, South Dakota. By 1888, the CRIF&NW was leased by the Burlington, Cedar Rapids & Northern Railway (BCR&N), which operated a modest railroad network throughout eastern and northern Iowa. This line provided a growing BCR&N network with access to terminals and interchange at Sioux Falls. The CRIF&NW was outright purchased by the BCR&N in May 1902. The BCR&N was in turn purchased by the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway (Rock Island) in June 1903. The Rock Island operated a large railroad network through the central United States, serving diverse industries.
The Rock Island struggled financially throughout much of its history, experiencing repeated bankruptcies and chronic instability. After World War II, the Rock Island struggled to survive, proposing mergers and deferring maintenance on their routes. The railroad reorganized as the Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad in 1948. The segment between Rock Rapids and Sioux Falls would be abandoned in 1972. By the mid-1970s, the railroad was in serious decline. The railroad secured loans to eliminate slow orders, acquired new equipment, and attempted to restore profitability. In 1977, the remainder of the line was abandoned in an effort to eliminate poorly preforming branch lines. Today, much of the right-of-way has been converted to farm fields. However, sections in Rock Rapids and Sioux Falls have been converted to trail use.
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.
Citations
| Builder and build date | Lassig Bridge & Iron Works plaque |
| Railroad History Citation | ICC Valuation Information, Compiled by Richard S. Steele |