Southwest Fifth Street Bridge, Spanning Raccoon River at Southwest Fifth (Jackson) Street, Des Moines, Polk County, IA

Significance: The Southwest Fifth Street Bridge ranks among Iowa's most significant vehicular spans. It is one of Iowa's few remaining pinned Pratt through trusses with three or more spans. As one of only three pinned through trusses located in an urban setting, the Southwest Fifth Street Bridge is exceptionally important in its representation of early urban wagon bridge construction. The controversies which surrounded the construction of the bridge also illuminate patterns of development in Des Moines and the nature of bridge contracting at the turn of the century.
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: N242
Survey number: HAER IA-71
Building/structure dates: 1898 Initial Construction
National Register of Historic Places NRIS Number: 98000487