The 3 Highest Bridges in Iowa Are Towering Mammoths
While it might not be known for its staggeringly high bridges, Iowa still has some massive feats of engineering that help vehicles and trains travel across the state. One of the most interesting things about the three highest bridges in Iowa is that none of them are open for vehicle traffic! The top two highest bridges in the entire state are actually the same bridge, specifically the new track and the original, and are part of the train transit route in the state. They share the same name but are a few feet different in height. Another high bridge in Iowa is available for pedestrians and cyclists, allowing them to marvel at the engineering and design behind the impressive structure. Whether you’re an Iowa native or visiting The Hawkeye State, you should definitely check out one of these high bridges. Just make sure to find a place to park and watch nearby, since you can’t travel across them in your car.
Kate Shelley High Bridge
The supports of the Kate Shelley High Bridge are constructed out of steel and concrete.
©Old Man Gravel/Shutterstock.com
The highest bridge in the state of Iowa is the Kate Shelley High Bridge, also known as the Union Pacific Kate Shelley Bridge. It is 190 feet high and goes over the Des Moines River. This bridge only allows rail traffic over it and is not open for vehicles or pedestrians. It is made of steel and concrete.
It opened in 2009 after 3 years of construction right next to the original bridge bearing the same name. While an unofficial name, Kate Shelley refers to the story of teenage Catherine Shelley who lived in Iowa. After learning that a train went off the tracks at the Honey Creek Bridge, she crossed it during a thunderstorm to warn officials before a scheduled passenger train met the same fate.
Other bridges in Iowa have also been called (usually unofficially) the Kate Shelley Bridge. But it’s easy to distinguish them from this high pass due to the major height difference. The small stone bridge near where Shelley lived and the original train crashed as well as Honey Creek Bridge are both closer to 10 feet high. The massive Kate Shelley High Bridge is 190 feet high.
Old Kate Shelley High Bridge
The new Kate Shelley High Bridge is located right next to the older steel trestle bridge.
©Amphibol/ CC BY-SA 4.0
The original bridge was called the Boone Viaduct before it was renamed to honor local heroine Kate Shelley. It is just a few miles away from Boone, Iowa. The original expanse was 185 feet high and opened for rail traffic in 1901. Steel supports with a trestle design support the bridge. It goes over the Des Moines River, constructed for the Chicago and North Western Transportation Company. This railroad company operated more than 12,000 miles of track at one point but eventually downsized and combined with Union Pacific in the 1990s.
The bridge carried one train at a time for many years. Following storm damage in the 1980s, concerns arose about its age and condition. While it was still serviceable, inspections in 2001 eventually led the Union Pacific railroad company to decide that a new, updated bridge was the best plan. The original bridge still stands next to the slightly higher new one, both spanning the Des Moines River. They are collectively called the Kate Shelley High Bridge.
High Trestle Trail Bridge
The High Trestle Trail Bridge is open for cyclists and pedestrians.
©Tony Webster from Minneapolis, Minnesota/ CC BY-SA 2.0
Part bridge and part art installation, the High Trestle Trail Bridge is an amazing sight and experience near Madrid, Iowa. It is 130 feet high and only open for foot traffic and bicycles. The entire trail is around 25 miles long. The bridge is one of the most iconic sites along the trail and offers a great photo op. Going over an old railroad pass, this trail is pretty flat and has a lot of entry points. You can do the entire 25-mile length or just a section. The entire trail is paved and easy to use, whether you are walking, running, or riding a bike.
There are 41 steel frames over the bridge. These pay homage to coal mine shafts and highlight this part of the area’s history. After dark, blue lighting illuminates the frames overhead. Iowa artist David Dahlquist was behind the bridge’s design. Multiple community and arts organizations funded the bridge’s design and construction. Multiple awards honored the bridge, including the AIA Iowa Chapter Excellence in Design Merit Award (2011), Architectural SSL Magazine’s Product Innovation Award (2012), and others.
The entire bridge is half of a mile long and includes six places to stop and look out. These are also the perfect place to take a photo. Just keep in mind that this bridge is pedestrian/bicycle-only. You can’t drive your car over the bridge or along the trail. Fortunately, there are plenty of quaint towns along the route where you can park, explore, and access the trail.
The photo featured at the top of this post is © railway fx/Shutterstock.com
