Area less than one acre Opened 1934 Added to NRHP 15 May 1998 | Built 1934 Body of water Iowa River | |
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Location Washington Avenue over the Iowa River, Iowa Falls, Iowa Built by Iowa State Highway Commission; Weldon Brothers Architectural style Open spandrel arch, Other MPS Highway Bridges of Iowa MPS Similar Former Eldora Public Lib, United States Post Office, Alden Bridge, Princess Sweet Shop, Alden Public Library | ||
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.
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.
It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.