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This bridge, constructed ca. 1882, is a very old surviving example of a Pratt truss bridge. Its lack of alteration and outstanding structural condition also set it apart from the dwindling crowd of wrought iron truss bridges. The most noteworthy and unique feature of this bridge however is actually found in its pony truss approach span, which has an inclined endpost at the eastern end, but a vertical bedstead style endpost at the western end. An unusual sloped bottom chord is also found on this span. From east to west, the bottom chord slowly rises above the deck to meet the vertical endpost a short distance above the deck.
As of the writing of this narrative, the only other bridge identified by HistoricBridges.org with a bedstead endpost at one end and an inclined endpost at the other end is a bridge in Tennessee.
This bridge's lack of alteration and lack of deterioration (due to being made of wrought iron) is truly remarkable. The one unfortunate problem on this bridge is that when it was open to traffic some of the vertical members were badly damaged by collision.
The easternmost floorbeam is not a built-up fishbelly floorbeam, suggesting it is a replacement.
Daniel and Webster of Garden Grove, Iowa was the builder and contractor for this bridge. It is one of the only known surviving works of this builder. According to Historic American Engineering Record, Phoenix Iron Company supplied the iron for this bridge, however no names (of any company) were seen on the bridge.
This bridge is closed, and the road east of the bridge appears to be privately owned today, with gravel pit activity immediately east of the bridge.
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