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 | |
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| Location | Washington Avenue over the Iowa River, Iowa Falls, Iowa |
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| Coordinates | 42°31′11″N 93°16′16″W / 42.51972°N 93.27111°W |
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1934 |
| Built by | Iowa State Highway Commission; Weldon Brothers |
| Architectural style | Open spandrel arch |
| MPS | Highway Bridges of Iowa MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 98000518[1] |
| Added to NRHP | May 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
edit- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ 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
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