Washington Avenue Bridge (Iowa Falls, Iowa)

The Washington Avenue Bridge in Iowa Falls, Iowa is an attractive concrete two-span open spandrel arched bridge that brings Washington Avenue over the Iowa River. Originally it carried US 20. It was built in 1934 by the Weldon Brothers for $51,710.55.[2]

Washington Avenue Bridge
Washington Avenue Bridge (Iowa Falls, Iowa) is located in Iowa
Washington Avenue Bridge (Iowa Falls, Iowa)
Washington Avenue Bridge (Iowa Falls, Iowa) is located in the United States
Washington Avenue Bridge (Iowa Falls, Iowa)
LocationWashington Avenue over the Iowa River, Iowa Falls, Iowa
Coordinates42°31′11″N 93°16′16″W / 42.51972°N 93.27111°W / 42.51972; -93.27111
Arealess than one acre
Built1934
Built byIowa State Highway Commission; Weldon Brothers
Architectural styleOpen spandrel arch
MPSHighway Bridges of Iowa MPS
NRHP reference No.98000518[1]
Added to NRHPMay 15, 1998

In the 1920s and 1930s if a relatively long bridge was required in a rural area, it would have been built using steel trusses, but in this urban setting where there is enough height in the bridge to allow wide arches, a concrete open-spandrel arch bridge could be built, and be worthwhile for its attractiveness. In Iowa, the Mederville Bridge (1918), the Adair Viaduct (1923) and the Iowa Falls Bridge (1928, also built by the Weldon Brothers) are other examples, but the Washington Avenue bridge is notable as a well-preserved two-span example.[2]

It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.[1]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ a b Michelle Crow-Dolby and Clayton Fraser (August 31, 1994). "Washington Avenue Bridge". National Park Service. Retrieved 2016-05-18. with Photo from 1991