How to cross the Old Durow Road Bridge in Iowa?
Located in Linn County, in the U.S. state of Iowa, the Old Durow Road Bridge is a historic steel through-truss bridge spanning Blue Creek. Situated east of Urbana, this single-lane structure carries the unpaved Durow Road across the creek bed in rural northeastern Iowa.
| Bridge facts: Old Durow Road Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Location | East of Urbana, Linn County, Iowa (USA) |
| Carries | Durow Road |
| Crosses | Blue Creek |
| Length | 50 meters (164 ft) |
| Structure Type | Steel Pratt through truss |
| Construction Date | Built in the 1920s |
| Weight Limit | 15 Tons (Strictly posted) |
| Surface | Unpaved gravel approach / Wooden deck |
Where is the Old Durow Road Bridge located?
The bridge stands along Durow Road, a rural gravel route running east of Urbana and north of Center Point in Linn County, northeastern Iowa. It crosses Blue Creek in an open agricultural area surrounded by farmland and creek-side woods.
When was the Old Durow Road Bridge built?
Constructed in the 1920s, the bridge was engineered to handle early agricultural transport across Blue Creek. It remains an active single-lane crossing on the county's unpaved road network.
What are the structural specs of the Old Durow Road Bridge?
The bridge is 164 feet (50 meters) long, featuring a steel Pratt through-truss design with overhead portal bracing and steel lattice sides. The roadway deck consists of heavy timber planking mounted over steel floor beams, connecting the dirt and gravel approaches of Durow Road.
What are the driving restrictions on the Old Durow Road Bridge?
A posted official sign at the bridge entry enforces a strict weight limit of 15 tons (15 Tn). Heavy agricultural machinery, loaded grain trucks, and heavy commercial vehicles must detour around the crossing to prevent structural damage. Due to the single-lane design, drivers must yield to oncoming vehicles before committing to the truss superstructure.
Why is the Old Durow Road Bridge notable?
It represents a surviving example of early 20th-century Midwestern county engineering, securing a place on the list of the most spectacular bridges in the world for historic truss crossings.
Pic: King Hawk Fan