The Southwest Fifth St. Bridge is a historic structure located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa, United States.

Built in 1898 after a controversy surrounding the bidding process, it is one of the last Pratt through truss bridges left in an urban setting in Iowa.

The aldermen on the west side of town wanted a bridge over the Raccoon River at Fifth Street.

[2] The other bidders charged that the specifications for the bridge were too general and Killmar's plans were flawed.

The combine, or pool, had been established by the bridge building industry to counteract the ruthless competition that occurred during the bidding process as the result of the economic depression from 1873 to 1879.

Several neighborhood and city associations attempted to stop the demolition with no success by December 2013, but then they raised $2.3 million to stabilize and rebuild it, and the city of Des Moines agreed to pay the $750,000 it had planned to use for demolition toward the project, plus another $125,000 later on, as well as $500,000 from a state grant.