170th Street Rock Creek Bridge: A historic 7-ton truss bridge in Iowa
Hidden in the rural landscape of Keokuk County, Iowa, the 170th Street Rock Creek Bridge is a remarkable survivor of early 20th-century engineering. This iron structure is recognized as one of the most spectacular bridges in the world due to its historical integrity and its position on a remote backroad that feels frozen in time.
| Bridge facts: 170th Street Rock Creek Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Location | Keokuk County, Iowa, USA |
| Type | Warren pony truss |
| Year Built | Circa 1910 |
| Length | 19 m (62.5 ft) |
| Weight Limit | 7 Tons |
Where is the 170th Street Rock Creek Bridge?
The bridge is located in the southeastern part of Iowa, spanning the waters of Rock Creek. It is situated on 170th Street, a quiet corridor in Keokuk County that serves local farms and connecting rural routes. The surrounding geography is typical of the Midwestern plains, with rolling fields and thick vegetation lining the creek banks. To reach it, you must leave the main highways and navigate the grid of secondary roads that define the heart of Iowa's agricultural country.
Is the road to the Rock Creek Bridge paved?
No, the bridge is part of the gravel 170th Street. The driving surface leading up to the structure is loose stone and dirt, which can become muddy and slippery after heavy Midwestern rainstorms. The transition from the gravel road to the bridge deck is narrow, requiring drivers to slow down and align their vehicles carefully. The structure itself is a Warren pony truss bridge, a design popular in the early 1900s for its strength and simplicity, but its narrow width means there is only room for one vehicle at a time.
How old is the 170th Street Rock Creek Bridge?
This iron veteran was built around 1910, making it over a century old. Spanning 19 meters (62.5 feet), the bridge has survived decades of harsh Iowa winters and spring floods. Despite its age, it remains in use, though its structural limits are clear. The weight limit is strictly set at 7 Tons. This means that while it is perfectly safe for passenger cars and light pickup trucks, heavy farm machinery, large delivery trucks, or modern RVs should find an alternative route to avoid overstressing the aged iron beams.
What are the hazards when crossing the Rock Creek Bridge?
The main hazard is the narrow clearance and the restricted load capacity. Because it is located on a gravel road, dust can reduce visibility when approaching the bridge, and the iron deck can be extremely slick during frost or light rain. Driving across it requires a steady pace; hitting the transition between the gravel and the bridge too fast can cause a loss of traction. It is a piece of living history that demands respect for its age and its engineering limits, standing as a reminder of the days when these iron trusses were the backbone of American rural travel.
Pic: King Hawk Fan