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
IAIS Fourmile Creek Bridge
IAIS Fourmile Creek Bridge
(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3531)
This deck plate girder bridge is the northern of two similar bridges carrying a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) line over Fourmile Creek on the east side of Des Moines
Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad
Status: In Use
Built 1902 and 1912
by
American Bridge Company of New York and Unknown
for
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Design:
5-44' deck plate girders
Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Fourmile Creek
Significance:
UP 2nd Avenue Bridge (Des Moines)
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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:
Trestle to Trestle Trail - Beaver Creek Bridge
Trestle to Trestle Trail - Beaver Creek Bridge
(Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway Bridge #130)
This deck plate girder bridge once carried a former Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway line over Beaver Creek north of Interstate 35/80 in Johnston
Owner: City of Johnston
Status: Replaced by a new bridge
Built c. 1960 using spans fabricated c. 1910
by
Unknown
for
Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway
Design:
2-36' deck plate girders and timber pile trestle
Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over Beaver Creek
Significance:
Great Western Trail - Frink Creek Culvert (North)
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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:
IAIS 8th Street Bridge
IAIS 8th Street Bridge
(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3476)
This through plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over 8th Street (former US Highway 6) in Altoona
Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad
Status: In Use
Built 1955
by
Unknown and Iowa Bridge Company of Des Moines, Iowa
for
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad
Design:
2-64' through plate girders and 4-35' steel stringers
Description:
Through plate girder bridge over 8th Street
Significance:
Great Western Trail - Frink Creek Culvert (South)
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Great Western Trail - Frink Creek Culvert (South)
(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #K213.32)
This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over Frink Creek near Willow Creek Avenue on the south side of Des Moines
Owner: Polk County Conservation Board
Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Built c. 1900
by
Unknown
for
Chicago Great Western Railway
Design:
7' stone arch culvert
Description:
Stone arch culvert over Frink Creek
Significance:
Inter-Urban Trail Bridge
Inter-Urban Trail Bridge
(Wakonsa Bridge)
This historic Pratt through truss bridge carries a former Des Moines & Central Iowa Railway mainline across the Des Moines River downstream from Euclid Avenue in Des Moines
Owner: City of Des Moines
Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic
Built 1905 using spans fabricated c. 1885
by
Unknown
for
Inter-Urban Railway
Design:
4-125' Pratt through trusses and timber stringer
Description:
Pratt through truss bridge over Des Moines 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:
IAIS Culvert #349.75
IAIS Culvert #349.75
This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over an unnamed creek near Northeast 27th Avenue southwest of Altoona
Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad
Status: In Use
Built c. 1875
by
Unknown
for
Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway
Design:
6' 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: