Railroad Bridges in Polk County, Iowa
Polk County is located in central Iowa. The seat and largest city are both Des Moines, the Capital of Iowa.
Random Bridges
Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K228.62
Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K228.62
This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over an unnamed creek near Northeast 62nd Avenue east of Berwick
Owner: Polk County Conservation Board
Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Built c. 1900
by
Unknown
for
Chicago Great Western Railway
Design:
4' stone arch culvert
Description:
Stone arch culvert over unnamed creek
Significance:
Des Moines Red Bridge
Des Moines Red Bridge
(Des Moines Union Railway Bridge)
This iconic through truss bridge carries the former Des Moines Union Railway mainline across the Des Moines River between Court Avenue and Vine Street in Des Moines
Owner: City of Des Moines
Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Built 1891, 1905 and 1945 and 2006
by
Detroit Bridge & Iron Works of Detroit, Michigan; Des Moines Bridge & Iron Works of Des Moines, Iowa; Stupp Brothers Bridge & Iron Company of St. Louis, Missouri and others
for
Des Moines Union Railway
Design:
2-152' Pratt through trusses, 1-78' through plate girder, 1-68' deck plate girder, 1-25' steel stringer and 1-45' steel stringer
Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Des Moines River
Significance:
Chichaqua Valley Trail - Ditch 38 Bridge
Chichaqua Valley Trail - Ditch 38 Bridge
(Chicago Great Western Bridge #K239.39)
This steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over Polk County Ditch #38 between Santiago and Valeria
Owner: Polk County Conservation Board
Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Built c. 1940
by
Unknown
for
Chicago Great Western Railway
Design:
30' steel stringer and timber pile trestle
Description:
Steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge over Polk County Ditch #38
Significance:
IAIS 80th Street Bridge
IAIS 80th Street Bridge
(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3456)
This deck plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over Northeast 80th Street and Mud Creek east of Altoona
Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad
Status: In Use
Built 1901
by
American Bridge Company of New York (Lassig Plant)
for
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Design:
66' deck plate girder
Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Northeast 80th Street and Mud Creek
Significance:
Clive Greenbelt Trail - Walnut Creek Bridge
Clive Greenbelt Trail - Walnut Creek Bridge
(Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad Bridge #Y-22)
This unique through plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul & Pacific Railroad (Milwaukee Road) branch line over Walnut Creek at Campbell Park in Clive
Owner: City of Clive
Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Built 1917 using a span fabricated 1889
by
Lassig Bridge & Iron Works of Chicago, Illinois
for
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul Railway
Design:
65' through plate girder and timber pile trestle
Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Walnut Creek
Significance:
Great Western Trail - Frink Creek Culvert (North)
Great Western Trail - Frink Creek Culvert (North)
(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #K214.45)
This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline and Southwest 42nd Street over Frink Creek on the south side of Des Moines
Owner: Polk County Conservation Board
Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Built c. 1900 and 1972
by
Unknown
for
Chicago Great Western Railway
Design:
10' stone arch culvert
Description:
Stone arch culvert over Frink Creek
Significance:
Chichaqua Valley Trail - South Skunk River Bridge
Chichaqua Valley Trail - South Skunk River Bridge
(Chicago Great Western Bridge #K239.05)
This large deck plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over the South Skunk River between Santiago and Valeria
Owner: Polk County Conservation Board
Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Built 1921 and 1928
by
American Bridge Company of New York and Unknown
for
Chicago Great Western Railway
Design:
4-70' deck plate girders and timber pile trestle
Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over South Skunk River
Significance:
C&NW Des Moines River Bridge
C&NW Des Moines River Bridge
(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #K219.79)
This large Pratt through truss bridge once carried a Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over the Des Moines River between Southeast 1st Street and Southeast 6th Street in Des Moines
Owner: Union Pacific Railroad
Status: Removed but not replaced
Built 1901
by
American Bridge Company of New York and Shepard, Winston & Company of St. Paul, Minnesota
for
Chicago Great Western Railway
Design:
4-180' Pratt through trusses
Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Des Moines River
Significance:
UP 2nd Avenue Bridge (Des Moines)
UP 2nd Avenue Bridge (Des Moines)
(Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway Bridge #314)
This steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge carries a former Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway line over Iowa Highway 415 (2nd Avenue) and an unnamed creek on the north side of Des Moines
Owner: Union Pacific Railroad
Status: In Use
Built 1942
by
Unknown
for
Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway
Design:
2-33' steel stringers and timber pile trestle
Description:
Steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge over Iowa Highway 415 (2nd Avenue) and unnamed creek
Significance:
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2087
Chicago & North Western Railway Bridge #2087
This steel stringer bridge carries a former Chicago & North Western Railway secondary line over an unnamed creek northeast of Polk City
Owner: Polk County Conservation Board
Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Built 1913
by
American Bridge Company of New York and Cleary-White Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois
for
Chicago & North Western Railway
Design:
18' steel stringer
Description:
Steel stringer bridge over unnamed creek
Significance: