South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge
Encyclopedia
The South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge (originally the South Omaha Bridge but renamed the Veterans Memorial Bridge in 1995) was a continuous warren through truss bridge
over the Missouri River
connecting Omaha, Nebraska
with Council Bluffs, Iowa
via U.S. Highway 275.
Omaha floated a $2 million bond issue for the bridge in 1931. However when the bonds did not sell the Omaha Bridge Commission was formed to secure financing from the Public Works Administration
. The initial design by the Kansas City architects Ash, Howard, Needles and Tammen
called for the bridge to have seven spans. However when the War Department
announced plans to reroute the river channel, the design was changed to two 525 feet (160 m), continuously supported, Warren through spans and a series of Warren deck truss approach spans.
It was built by the Kansas City Bridge Company
opening on January 18, 1936. It is 22.2 feet (6.8 m) wide and 2126 feet (648 m) long. The piers were initially on dry land, since the river had not been rerouted. Tolls on the bridge were discontinued on September 25, 1947.
The bridge provided a much-needed direct route across the Missouri River to the Omaha Stockyards for livestock delivery trucks. Before the South Omaha Bridge was built trucks had to cross the Douglas Street Bridge and drive through downtown Omaha to reach the packinghouse district.
Although listed on the National Register of Historic Places
in 1992, the bridge was torn down so a new four-lane girder bridge
could be constructed with a target opening date in 2010. The new bridge will provide for four 12 feet (3.7 m) and a 4 feet (1.2 m) with 10 feet (3 m) and a 10 feet (3 m). The new bridge will be 4300 feet (1,310.6 m) long and 87 in 8 in (26.72 m) wide. The existing bridge is 4378 feet (1,334.4 m) long and provides a clear roadway width of only 22 in 6 in (6.86 m). In November 2006 Nebraska placed a 5-ton vehicle limit on the bridge. On June 11, 2008, an additional height restriction requiring vehicles to be under 8 feet (2.4 m) was imposed. On September 8, 2009, at 9 am CDT, the bridge closed so that the new bridge's construction will continue. The bridge was demolished by March 2010. The new bridge opened May 28, 2010.
Truss bridge
A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges...
over the Missouri River
Missouri River
The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...
connecting Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha, Nebraska
Omaha is the largest city in the state of Nebraska, United States, and is the county seat of Douglas County. It is located in the Midwestern United States on the Missouri River, about 20 miles north of the mouth of the Platte River...
with Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, Iowa
Council Bluffs, known until 1852 as Kanesville, Iowathe historic starting point of the Mormon Trail and eventual northernmost anchor town of the other emigrant trailsis a city in and the county seat of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, United States and is on the east bank of the Missouri River across...
via U.S. Highway 275.
Omaha floated a $2 million bond issue for the bridge in 1931. However when the bonds did not sell the Omaha Bridge Commission was formed to secure financing from the Public Works Administration
Public Works Administration
The Public Works Administration , part of the New Deal of 1933, was a large-scale public works construction agency in the United States headed by Secretary of the Interior Harold L. Ickes. It was created by the National Industrial Recovery Act in June 1933 in response to the Great Depression...
. The initial design by the Kansas City architects Ash, Howard, Needles and Tammen
HNTB
HNTB Corporation is an architecture and engineering consulting firm headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri that has designed many bridges, roadways, airports and professional sports stadiums across the United States and around the world.The firm started in 1914 as Harrington, Howard & Ash...
called for the bridge to have seven spans. However when the War Department
United States Department of War
The United States Department of War, also called the War Department , was the United States Cabinet department originally responsible for the operation and maintenance of the United States Army...
announced plans to reroute the river channel, the design was changed to two 525 feet (160 m), continuously supported, Warren through spans and a series of Warren deck truss approach spans.
It was built by the Kansas City Bridge Company
Kansas City Bridge Company
The Kansas City Bridge Company was a bridge building company that built many bridges throughout the Midwest in the early 1900s.The company was founded in 1893 and ceased business around 1960.-Bridges:Missouri River* Missouri-Kansas-Texas Bridge...
opening on January 18, 1936. It is 22.2 feet (6.8 m) wide and 2126 feet (648 m) long. The piers were initially on dry land, since the river had not been rerouted. Tolls on the bridge were discontinued on September 25, 1947.
The bridge provided a much-needed direct route across the Missouri River to the Omaha Stockyards for livestock delivery trucks. Before the South Omaha Bridge was built trucks had to cross the Douglas Street Bridge and drive through downtown Omaha to reach the packinghouse district.
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1992, the bridge was torn down so a new four-lane girder bridge
Girder bridge
A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. In turn, a bridge deck is built on top of the girders in order to carry traffic. There are several different subtypes of girder bridges:...
could be constructed with a target opening date in 2010. The new bridge will provide for four 12 feet (3.7 m) and a 4 feet (1.2 m) with 10 feet (3 m) and a 10 feet (3 m). The new bridge will be 4300 feet (1,310.6 m) long and 87 in 8 in (26.72 m) wide. The existing bridge is 4378 feet (1,334.4 m) long and provides a clear roadway width of only 22 in 6 in (6.86 m). In November 2006 Nebraska placed a 5-ton vehicle limit on the bridge. On June 11, 2008, an additional height restriction requiring vehicles to be under 8 feet (2.4 m) was imposed. On September 8, 2009, at 9 am CDT, the bridge closed so that the new bridge's construction will continue. The bridge was demolished by March 2010. The new bridge opened May 28, 2010.