South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge facts for kids
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South Omaha Bridge
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Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
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The old, now-demolished bridge
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location |  US 275, Council Bluffs, Iowa / Omaha, Nebraska |
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| Built | 1935 |
| Architect | Ash, Howard, Needles, & Tammen; Kansas City Bridge Co. |
| MPS | Highway Bridges in Nebraska MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000742 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | June 29, 1992 |
| Removed from NRHP | July 14, 2011 |
The South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge was a very important bridge. It crossed the Missouri River, connecting Omaha, Nebraska with Council Bluffs, Iowa. This bridge was part of U.S. Highway 275. It was first called the South Omaha Bridge. Later, in 1995, it was renamed the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Building the South Omaha Bridge
Building a big bridge costs a lot of money. In 1931, Omaha tried to raise $2 million for the bridge. They planned to sell special bonds, which are like loans that people buy. But the bonds did not sell well.
So, a group called the Omaha Bridge Commission was created. Their job was to get money from the Public Works Administration. This was a government program that helped pay for big projects during the Great Depression.
Bridge Design Changes
The first plan for the bridge came from architects Ash, Howard, Needles and Tammen. They designed a bridge with seven sections.
However, the United States Department of War had different plans. They wanted to change the path of the river. Because of this, the bridge design had to change. The new design featured two long sections, each about 525 feet (160 meters) long. These sections were supported all the way across. There were also many smaller sections leading up to the main part.
Construction and Opening
The Kansas City Bridge Company built the bridge. It opened on January 18, 1936. The bridge was 22.2 feet (6.8 meters) wide. It stretched for 2,126 feet (648 meters) across the land.
When the bridge was first built, its support piers were on dry land. This was because the river had not yet been moved to its new path. For many years, people had to pay a small fee, called a toll, to cross the bridge. These tolls stopped on September 25, 1947.
Why the Bridge Was Important
The South Omaha Bridge was very important for local businesses. It created a direct path across the Missouri River. This path led right to the Omaha Stockyards.
The stockyards were a huge place where livestock, like cows and pigs, were bought and sold. Before this bridge, trucks carrying animals had to take a longer route. They had to cross the Douglas Street Bridge. Then, they drove through downtown Omaha to reach the meatpacking area. The new bridge made it much easier and faster for trucks to deliver livestock.
The Old Bridge Comes Down
The old South Omaha Bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992. This meant it was recognized as an important historical site.
However, the bridge was getting old. It was 4,378 feet (1,334 meters) long. But its roadway was only 22 feet 6 inches (6.86 meters) wide. This was too narrow for modern traffic.
In November 2006, Nebraska put a weight limit on the bridge. Vehicles weighing more than 5 tons could not cross. In June 2008, a height limit was added. Vehicles had to be under 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall.
On September 8, 2009, the old bridge closed for good. It was torn down to make way for a new, wider bridge. By March 2010, the original bridge was completely gone. It was removed from the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
The New Bridge Opens
The new South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge opened on May 28, 2010. This new bridge is much bigger and better for today's traffic.
It has four lanes for cars, each 12 feet (3.7 meters) wide. There is also a raised area in the middle, 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide. The bridge has wide shoulders, 10 feet (3 meters) wide, for safety. Plus, there's a special 10-foot (3-meter) wide path for bikes. The new bridge is 4,300 feet (1,311 meters) long and 87 feet 8 inches (26.7 meters) wide.
