The Plattsmouth Bridge is a truss bridge over the Missouri River connecting Cass County, Nebraska, and Mills County, Iowa at Plattsmouth, Nebraska. Until 2014, it carried U.S. Highway 34 across the river.
Plattsmouth Bridge | |
|---|---|
 View from Nebraska side | |
| Coordinates | 41°0′4″N 95°52′0″W / 41.00111°N 95.86667°W |
| Crosses | Missouri River |
| Locale | Cass County, Nebraska and Mills County, Iowa |
| Owner | Plattsmouth, Nebraska |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss |
| Material | Steel |
| History | |
| Opened | 1929 |
| Statistics | |
| Toll | $1.75 |
Plattsmouth Bridge | |
   | |
| Built by | Omaha Structural Steel Works |
| Architectural style | Cantlevered through truss |
| MPS | Highway Bridges in Nebraska MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000755[1] |
| Added to NRHP | April 15, 1993 |
| Location | |
 | |
The bridge has seven spans, including the 402-foot (123 m) cantilevered through truss over the river's navigable channel. It is anchored by 201-foot (61 m) through spans, with two 203-foot (62 m) and two 104-foot (32 m) deck trusses over the eastern flood plain. The bridge has clearance of 14 feet 5 inches (4.39 m)[2] and a width of 20 feet (6.1 m).
The bridge was built in 1929, replacing a ferry that previously operated at the site. It was designed by the Omaha Structural Steel Works.
In November 2006 it was decided to repair the bridge rather than build new bridges. Earlier plans had called for a new $42 million two-lane bridge and bypass of Plattsmouth.[3] The new bridge would have been about 300 feet (91 m) south of the existing one.
In November 2007, ownership of the bridge was transferred from the private Plattsmouth Bridge company to the public Plattsmouth Bridge Commission.[4] Between April 21, 2008, and November 9, 2008, the bridge was closed as part of a federally funded bridge restoration.[4] The bridge reopened November 9, 2008.[5] As of 2011, the toll for cars was $1.25.[6] In 2018, the toll for cars was raised to $1.75.[7]
In 2014, Highway 34 was rerouted to a new four-lane bridge farther upstream, north of the Platte River and above its junction with the Missouri.[8][9]
Structural repairs were completed in 2018, allowing the weight limit to be increased to 40,000 pounds (20 tons); the toll was increased to $1.75.[10][11]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
- ^ See photo.
- ^ "Plattsmouth residents hear of road, bridge plans". Lincoln Journal-Star. August 31, 2005.
- ^ a b "Plattsmouth bridge closing for repairs". Omaha World-Herald. April 15, 2008.
- ^ "Renovation complete, Missouri River bridge near Plattsmouth to re-open Sunday". SouthwestIowaNews.com. November 8, 2008.[permanent dead link]
- ^ Duggan, Joe (October 4, 2011). "Bridge a boon for Plattsmouth". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved July 28, 2013.
- ^ Hardin, Brent (July 18, 2018). "PBC announces new toll rates". Fremont Tribune. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ Nohr, Emily (October 22, 2014). "At ribbon-cutting, Branstad says Highway 34 bridge means 'economic growth,' 'jobs'". Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved September 15, 2017.
- ^ Laukaitis, Algis (October 20, 2014). "New bridge gives Nebraska drivers another link to I-29". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved March 25, 2019.
- ^ https://fremonttribune.com/cass-news/news/plattsmouth-bridge-commission-sets-new-weight-limit/article_fce0e88f-7e9b-5c98-9a29-095fe1a0c2b6.html>
- ^ "PBC announces new toll rates".
External links
edit
- Nebraska study on replacing the bridge
- Nebraskahistory.org history of bridge[usurped]
- Eomaha Forum article
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. IA-67, "Plattsmouth Bridge, Spanning Missouri River at U.S. Highway 34, Pacific Junction, Mills County, IA", 11 photos, 3 color transparencies, 17 data pages, 1 photo caption page
- HAER No. NE-5, "Plattsmouth Bridge, Spanning Missouri River, Plattsmouth vicinity, Cass County, NE", 7 photos, 1 photo caption page
- Plattsmouth car bridge on YouTube