Year constructed: 1887
Bridge type: Stone Masonry Arch
National Register of Historic Places status:
Listed
Length: 24 feet
Width: Unknown
Spans: 1
FHWA: 001550
Jurisdiction: City of Cedar Rapids Parks and Recreation
Location: Abandoned railroad over Ely Road in Cedar Rapids, Section 2, T82N-R7W (College Township)
Details
This stone arch carries railroad tracks across Ely Road in the city of Cedar Rapids. Date stones set above the keystones note that this bridge was constructed in 1887, probably by the IANR railroad. Railroads began to build a large number of stone arch bridges in the last quarter of the nineteenth century. Stone bridges were durable and projected a refined and sophisticated image. This bridge is typical of most of the railroad stone arches of the period, featuring a semi-circular arch; rock-faced, coursed-ashlar masonry; flared, stepped wingwalls; elongated, projecting keystone; belt course; and parapet with projecting coping. Supported by stone abutments, the stone grade arch continues to function today, in unaltered, well-preserved condition. This structure is the only stone arch bridge listed on the Iowa Historic Bridge Inventory in Linn County, thus making it a rare and historically significant example of an early highway- and railroad-related resource [adapted from Crow-Dolby and Fraser 1993].