Shell Rock Bridge, Historic concrete arch bridge in Shell Rock, Iowa, United States.
The Shell Rock Bridge is a three-span concrete filled spandrel arch structure measuring 266 feet in length and 24 feet in width, featuring curved wing walls and handrails that extend across the full street width over the Shell Rock River.
Constructed in 1915 by Miller-Hey Construction Company under Iowa State Highway Commission plans, the bridge cost approximately $16,500 and was completed by November as part of Butler County's infrastructure improvement initiative.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the bridge represents early 20th-century engineering excellence and serves as a symbol of regional development during the automobile expansion era for the Shell Rock community.
Located on Cherry Street in Shell Rock Township, the bridge remains open to vehicular traffic with routine maintenance inspections ensuring structural integrity while adhering to historic preservation standards for any modifications.
The bridge was one of three contracted at once by the Butler County Board of Supervisors on May 11, 1915, all awarded to Miller-Hey Construction Co. of Waterloo. The concrete spandrel arch design came from the Iowa State Highway Commission, and the span was finished that fall for $16,500. It joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1998.
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