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
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:
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:
Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K226.48
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
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:
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:
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:
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:
UP Raccoon River Bridge (Hollingsworth Spur)
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
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:
IAIS Camp Creek Tributary Bridge
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:
IAIS Des Moines River Bridge
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
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:
Chichaqua Valley Trail - Fourmile Creek Bridge
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
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: