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Construction began in 1937 on what was to be the largest viaduct in Cedar Rapids. The Gazette ran a couple of photos showing pile drivers at work on either side of the railroad tracks at 16th Avenue SW.

The state Highway Commission rerouted Highway 30 that year from west of the city onto 16th Avenue, south and east to the west end of the avenue and then east to First Street SW. The routing necessitated the viaduct over the railroad tracks.

In addition, the commission said, “It is our purpose to construct a bridge over the Cedar River” at Eighth Avenue as soon as funds were available.

The Iowa Highway Commission received bids Nov. 9, 1936, to pave the 625-foot viaduct that would span the trac

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