Plattsmouth Bridge
Encyclopedia
. At the time it was the only bridge that was still open crossing the river for more than 100 miles from Omaha to St. Joseph, Missouri]]
The Plattsmouth Bridge is a truss bridge
over the Missouri River
connecting Cass County, Nebraska
and Mills County, Iowa
via U.S. Route 34
. The bridge is owned by the city of Plattsmouth, Nebraska
.
The bridge has seven spans including the 402 feet (122.5 m) cantilevered through truss over the river's navigable channel. It is anchored by 201 feet (61.3 m) through spans, with two 203 feet (61.9 m) and two 104 feet (31.7 m) deck trusses over the eastern flood plain. The bridge has clearance of 14'9" and has a width of 20 feet (6.1 m).
A ferry
operated here until the bridge was constructed in 1929. The Plattsmouth Bridge Commission charges tolls which in 2007 were $1.25 each way for an automobile. It was designed by the Omaha Structural Steel Works and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1993.
Just north of the bridge is the BNSF rail crossing used by AMTRAK
and a pipeline crossing.
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. The new bridge would have been about 300 feet (91.4 m) south of the current bridge.
In November 2007, ownership of the bridge was transferred from the private Plattsmouth Bridge company to the public Plattsmouth Bridge Commission.
Between April 21, 2008 and November 9, 2008, the bridge was closed as part of a federally funded bridge restoration. The bridge reopened November 9, 2008.
The Plattsmouth Bridge is a 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...
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 Cass County, Nebraska
Cass County, Nebraska
-Other Geographical notes:Due to its proximity to Cass County, Iowa, and because both of those counties receive most of their broadcasts from Omaha, Nebraska, references to 'Cass County' must be frequently disambiguated, or result in confusion.-Demographics:...
and Mills County, Iowa
Mills County, Iowa
-2010 census:The 2010 census recorded a population of 15,059 in the county, with a population density of . There were 6,109 housing units, of which 5,605 were occupied.-2000 census:...
via U.S. Route 34
U.S. Route 34
U.S. Route 34 is an east–west United States highway that runs for 1,122 miles from north-central Colorado to the western suburbs of Chicago. Through Rocky Mountain National Park it is known as the Trail Ridge Road where it reaches 12,183 ft , making it the highest paved through highway in...
. The bridge is owned by the city of Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Plattsmouth, Nebraska
Plattsmouth is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Nebraska, United States, which was founded in 1855. The population was 6,887 at the 2000 census.-History:...
.
The bridge has seven spans including the 402 feet (122.5 m) cantilevered through truss over the river's navigable channel. It is anchored by 201 feet (61.3 m) through spans, with two 203 feet (61.9 m) and two 104 feet (31.7 m) deck trusses over the eastern flood plain. The bridge has clearance of 14'9" and has a width of 20 feet (6.1 m).
A ferry
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
operated here until the bridge was constructed in 1929. The Plattsmouth Bridge Commission charges tolls which in 2007 were $1.25 each way for an automobile. It was designed by the Omaha Structural Steel Works and was added to the National Register of Historic Places
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 1993.
Just north of the bridge is the BNSF rail crossing used by AMTRAK
Amtrak
The National Railroad Passenger Corporation, doing business as Amtrak , is a government-owned corporation that was organized on May 1, 1971, to provide intercity passenger train service in the United States. "Amtrak" is a portmanteau of the words "America" and "track". It is headquartered at Union...
and a pipeline crossing.
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. The new bridge would have been about 300 feet (91.4 m) south of the current bridge.
In November 2007, ownership of the bridge was transferred from the private Plattsmouth Bridge company to the public Plattsmouth Bridge Commission.
Between April 21, 2008 and November 9, 2008, the bridge was closed as part of a federally funded bridge restoration. The bridge reopened November 9, 2008.