Iowa has many beautiful bridges. Perhaps there are even too many to visit in a lifetime, unless you dedicate many years to the endeavor. But if you’re looking for a great place to start, here are just ten that are among the most beautiful bridges in our state.
- Black Hawk Bridge, Lansing
Adam/Flickr The Black Hawk Bridge joins the town of Lansing, Iowa, to rural Crawford County, Wisconsin across the stunning Mississippi River. Locals might call it the Lansing bridge. It opened in 1931, and is one of the more unusual bridges along the Mississippi River. This bridge is named after Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk tribe, famous for their 1832 uprising.
- Lovers Leap Swinging Bridge, Columbus Junction
Chris Brooks/Flickr This bridge was constructed in 1886 but condemned in 1902 because it was unsafe. It was then rebuilt in 1904 and now has a span of 160 feet. It collapsed in 1920 with two people on it, dropping them into the valley. The new 1922 version of this bridge has a span of 262 feet. The flooring was refurbished in 1954. Local legend says that a Native American woman jumped to her death from the bridge after hearing that her lover had died.
- Sutliff Bridge, near Solon and Lisbon
Rich Herrmann/Flickr The Sutliff Bridge is a bridge over the Cedar River at Sutliff in Johnson County near Lisbon. It cost about $12,000 to build in 1897.
Sutliff Bridge Authority/Facebook On Friday, June 13, 2008, a portion of this historic bridge collapsed due to catastrophic flooding in the area. The Sutliff Bridge Authority worked with FEMA, the State Historical Society, Johnson County, and structural engineering experts to rebuild this iconic Iowa bridge.
- Fourth Street Pedestrian Bridge, Waterloo
scottabing/Flickr This bridge is important to downtown Waterloo. The covered pedestrian walkway, complete with an arched steel canopy, is located on the Fourth Street Cedar River Bridge. It dates back to 1976, when the “ConWay Plaza” downtown revitalization project was in full swing. The bridge was designed to connect the west side of downtown to the east side.
- Davenport Skybridge
Nenortas Photography/Flickr This pedestrian cable-stayed bridge spans River Drive in downtown Davenport. Completed in 2005, this bridge connects LeClaire Park and Rhythm City Casino to a parking ramp on 2nd street next to the River Music Experience. On the south end of the bridge, there’s a great place to take in the Mississippi River views. The Skybridge has kaleidoscope lighting with over 8,000 individual lights that are adjustable according to the occasion.
- Bertram Bridge, Cedar Rapids
R Flynn This short-span through truss bridge sits on limestone blocks that are over 130 years old. It’s a single-lane bridge that extends northwest-southwest across a stream on Bertram Road one mile east of Cedar Rapids.
- Cedar Bridge, near Winterset
Scott McLeod/Flickr This amazing Iowa bridge appeared in the movie “Bridges of Madison County.” It burned in 2002, was lovingly rebuilt by the local community and the Madison County Historic Preservation Commission, and sadly, was burned again just last week. The community hopes to rebuild the bridge yet again.
- High Trestle Bridge, Madrid
Flickr/Carol VanHook This bridge is ten feet wide and is open to all forms of pedestrian use. Lights are on between April 1 and October 31 from sunset to midnight and from November 1 to March 31 from sunset to 9pm.
- Pedestrian Bridge, Des Moines
Jason Mrachina/Flickr The recently renovated pedestrian bridge just south of Court Ave in downtown Des Moines was originally an 1800s railway bridge. It’s now a pedestrian and bicycle link over the Des Moines River.
- Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge, Council Bluffs
Skinzfan23/Flickr This 3,000-foot bridge is also for pedestrian traffic and spans the Missouri River between Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. It opened in 2008. The bridge is north of the Interstate 480 bridge. It connects One Renaissance Center in Council Bluffs to the Port of Omaha’s Miller Landing.
This naturally beautiful state has so much to offer in the way of amazing scenery, and its beautiful bridges are just one reason why Iowans love living here. Tell us about your favorite Iowa bridge, big or small, in the comment section below!
Adam/Flickr
The Black Hawk Bridge joins the town of Lansing, Iowa, to rural Crawford County, Wisconsin across the stunning Mississippi River. Locals might call it the Lansing bridge. It opened in 1931, and is one of the more unusual bridges along the Mississippi River. This bridge is named after Chief Black Hawk of the Sauk tribe, famous for their 1832 uprising.
Chris Brooks/Flickr
This bridge was constructed in 1886 but condemned in 1902 because it was unsafe. It was then rebuilt in 1904 and now has a span of 160 feet. It collapsed in 1920 with two people on it, dropping them into the valley. The new 1922 version of this bridge has a span of 262 feet. The flooring was refurbished in 1954. Local legend says that a Native American woman jumped to her death from the bridge after hearing that her lover had died.
Rich Herrmann/Flickr
The Sutliff Bridge is a bridge over the Cedar River at Sutliff in Johnson County near Lisbon. It cost about $12,000 to build in 1897.
Sutliff Bridge Authority/Facebook
On Friday, June 13, 2008, a portion of this historic bridge collapsed due to catastrophic flooding in the area. The Sutliff Bridge Authority worked with FEMA, the State Historical Society, Johnson County, and structural engineering experts to rebuild this iconic Iowa bridge.
scottabing/Flickr
This bridge is important to downtown Waterloo. The covered pedestrian walkway, complete with an arched steel canopy, is located on the Fourth Street Cedar River Bridge. It dates back to 1976, when the “ConWay Plaza” downtown revitalization project was in full swing. The bridge was designed to connect the west side of downtown to the east side.
Nenortas Photography/Flickr
This pedestrian cable-stayed bridge spans River Drive in downtown Davenport. Completed in 2005, this bridge connects LeClaire Park and Rhythm City Casino to a parking ramp on 2nd street next to the River Music Experience. On the south end of the bridge, there’s a great place to take in the Mississippi River views. The Skybridge has kaleidoscope lighting with over 8,000 individual lights that are adjustable according to the occasion.
R Flynn
This short-span through truss bridge sits on limestone blocks that are over 130 years old. It’s a single-lane bridge that extends northwest-southwest across a stream on Bertram Road one mile east of Cedar Rapids.
Scott McLeod/Flickr
This amazing Iowa bridge appeared in the movie “Bridges of Madison County.” It burned in 2002, was lovingly rebuilt by the local community and the Madison County Historic Preservation Commission, and sadly, was burned again just last week. The community hopes to rebuild the bridge yet again.
Flickr/Carol VanHook
This bridge is ten feet wide and is open to all forms of pedestrian use. Lights are on between April 1 and October 31 from sunset to midnight and from November 1 to March 31 from sunset to 9pm.
Jason Mrachina/Flickr
The recently renovated pedestrian bridge just south of Court Ave in downtown Des Moines was originally an 1800s railway bridge. It’s now a pedestrian and bicycle link over the Des Moines River.
Skinzfan23/Flickr
This 3,000-foot bridge is also for pedestrian traffic and spans the Missouri River between Council Bluffs, Iowa, and Omaha, Nebraska. It opened in 2008. The bridge is north of the Interstate 480 bridge. It connects One Renaissance Center in Council Bluffs to the Port of Omaha’s Miller Landing.
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