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

Trestle to Trestle Trail - Beaver Creek Bridge

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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

Johnston, Polk County, Iowa

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:

Local

Clive Greenbelt Trail - Walnut Creek Bridge

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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

Clive, Polk County, Iowa

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:

Moderate

Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K226.48

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Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K226.48

This small stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over an unnamed creek near Northeast 29th Street southwest of Berwick

Berwick, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Abandoned

Built c. 1900

by

Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
4' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over unnamed creek

Significance:

Local

Chichaqua Valley Trail - South Skunk River Bridge

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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

Santiago, Polk County, Iowa

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:

Local

Des Moines Red Bridge

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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

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

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:

High

IAIS Culvert #349.75

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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

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

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:

Local

UP Raccoon River Bridge (Hollingsworth Spur)

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UP Raccoon River Bridge (Hollingsworth Spur)

This deck plate girder and steel stringer bridge was constructed of spare parts to carry a Union Pacific Railroad spur over the Raccoon River at Water Works Park

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Union Pacific Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1919; approaches rebuilt 2004 using spans fabricated c. 1930

by

Wisconsin Bridge & Iron Company of North Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Unknown

for

Minneapolis & St. Louis Railway and Union Pacific Railroad

Design:
100' deck plate girder and seven assorted steel stringer spans

Description:
Deck plate girder and steel stringer bridge over Raccoon River

Significance:

Local

IAIS Camp Creek Tributary Bridge

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IAIS Camp Creek Tributary Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3493)

This deck plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) secondary line over an unnamed tributary of Camp Creek southwest of Mitchellville

Mitchellville, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built c. 1955 using spans fabricated 1903 and 1907

by

American Bridge Company of New York

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
1-68' and 2-44' deck plate girders and timber pile trestle

Description:
Deck plate girder bridge over unnamed tributary of Camp Creek

Significance:

Local

IAIS Des Moines River Bridge

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IAIS Des Moines River Bridge

(Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad Bridge #3575)

This through plate girder bridge carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over the Des Moines River at Vine Street in Des Moines

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built 1904

by

American Bridge Company of New York; Bates & Rogers Construction Company of Chicago, Illinois and Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
8-77' through plate girders

Description:
Through plate girder bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

Local

Chichaqua Valley Trail - Fourmile Creek Bridge

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Chichaqua Valley Trail - Fourmile Creek Bridge

(Chicago Great Western Railway Bridge #K227.65)

This steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge carries a former Chicago Great Western Railway mainline over Fourmile Creek in Berwick

Berwick, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Polk County Conservation Board

Status: Open to Pedestrian Traffic

Built c. 1960

by

Unknown

for

Chicago Great Western Railway

Design:
50' steel stringer and timber pile trestle

Description:
Steel stringer and timber pile trestle bridge over Fourmile Creek

Significance:

Minimal