Nebraska City Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Nebraska City Bridge is a four-lane girder bridge
over the Missouri River
connecting Otoe County, Nebraska
with Fremont County, Iowa
at Nebraska City, Nebraska
.
The bridge built in 1986 bypasses the central business district and replaced the Waubonsie Bridge truss bridge
which opened in 1930 and went towards the middle of town. The Waubonsie Bridge built by the Kansas City Bridge Company
called itself "The Bridge with a State park at Each End" because Arbor Lodge State Park was on the Nebraska side and Waubonsie State Park
was on the Iowa side.
The Waubonsie Bridge replaced a pontoon bridge
built in 1888 that claimed to be the largest drawbridge of its kind in the world. The pontoon bridge was more than 2000 feet (609.6 m) long and the middle of the bridge could swing open providing a 528 feet (160.9 m)-wide passage.
Local usage refers to the new bridge just as "the Missouri River Bridge."
The bridge was constructed as part of a highway plan to provide four-lane access between Lincoln, Nebraska
and Interstate 29
in Iowa. The bridge connects Nebraska Highway 2
with Iowa Highway 2.
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:...
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 Otoe County, Nebraska
Otoe County, Nebraska
-History:Otoe County was formed in 1854. It was named after the Otoe Indian tribe.-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 15,396 people, 6,060 households, and 4,229 families residing in the county. The population density was 25 people per square mile . There were 6,567 housing units...
with Fremont County, Iowa
Fremont County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 7,441 in the county, with a population density of . There were 3,431 housing units, of which 3,064 were occupied.-2000 census:...
at Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska City, Nebraska
Nebraska City is a city in Otoe County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 7,228 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Otoe County...
.
The bridge built in 1986 bypasses the central business district and replaced the Waubonsie Bridge truss bridge
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...
which opened in 1930 and went towards the middle of town. The Waubonsie Bridge 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...
called itself "The Bridge with a State park at Each End" because Arbor Lodge State Park was on the Nebraska side and Waubonsie State Park
Waubonsie State Park
Waubonsie State Park is a state park of Iowa, USA, located in the Loess Hills region. It is named for Chief Wabaunsee of Potawatomi tribe.Waubonsie State Park is located in the unique Loess Hills, a landform found only along the Missouri River in Iowa and Missouri, and in China...
was on the Iowa side.
The Waubonsie Bridge replaced a pontoon bridge
Pontoon bridge
A pontoon bridge or floating bridge is a bridge that floats on water and in which barge- or boat-like pontoons support the bridge deck and its dynamic loads. While pontoon bridges are usually temporary structures, some are used for long periods of time...
built in 1888 that claimed to be the largest drawbridge of its kind in the world. The pontoon bridge was more than 2000 feet (609.6 m) long and the middle of the bridge could swing open providing a 528 feet (160.9 m)-wide passage.
Local usage refers to the new bridge just as "the Missouri River Bridge."
The bridge was constructed as part of a highway plan to provide four-lane access between Lincoln, Nebraska
Lincoln, Nebraska
The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....
and Interstate 29
Interstate 29
Interstate 29 is an Interstate Highway in the Midwestern United States. I-29 runs from Kansas City, Missouri, at a junction with Interstate 35 and Interstate 70 to the Canadian border near Pembina, North Dakota, where it connects with Manitoba Highway 75 via the short Manitoba Highway 29.-Route...
in Iowa. The bridge connects Nebraska Highway 2
Nebraska Highway 2
Nebraska Highway 2 is a highway in Nebraska. It is a discontinuous highway with 2 segments. The western segment begins at the South Dakota border northwest of Crawford and ends southeast of Grand Island at an intersection with Interstate 80. The eastern segment begins in Lincoln and ends at the...
with Iowa Highway 2.