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 Culvert #349.75

Image name

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

IAIS 8th Street Bridge

Image name

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

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

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:

Minimal

IAIS Des Moines River Bridge

Image name

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

UP Raccoon River Bridge (Hollingsworth Spur)

Image name

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

NS Des Moines River Bridge

Image name

NS Des Moines River Bridge

This large through truss and steel stringer bridge carries a modern realignment of a former Wabash Railroad branch line over the Des Moines River alongside Iowa Highway 316 south of Runnells

Runnells, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Norfolk Southern Railway

Status: In Use

Built 1964

by

Unknown and L.G. Barcus Company of Kansas City, Missouri

for

Wabash Railroad and Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad

Design:
3-188' Warren through trusses and 36-43' steel stringers

Description:
Warren through truss bridge over Des Moines River

Significance:

Local

Chichaqua Valley Trail - South Skunk River Bridge

Image name

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

IAIS Fourmile Creek Bridge

Image name

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

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

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:

Local

Chicago Great Western Railway Culvert #K228.62

Image name

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

Berwick, Polk County, Iowa

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:

Local

UP 2nd Avenue Bridge (Des Moines)

Image name

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

Des Moines, Polk County, Iowa

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:

Local

IAIS Little Fourmile Creek Culvert (North)

Image name

IAIS Little Fourmile Creek Culvert (North)

This stone arch culvert carries a former Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railroad (Rock Island) mainline over Little Fourmile Creek near Lions Park in Altoona

Altoona, Polk County, Iowa

Owner: Iowa Interstate Railroad

Status: In Use

Built c. 1875

by

Unknown

for

Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Railway

Design:
10' stone arch culvert

Description:
Stone arch culvert over Little Fourmile Creek

Significance:

Local