South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge facts for kids
The South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge is a special bridge that helps people travel across the Missouri River. It connects two cities: Omaha, Nebraska and Council Bluffs, Iowa. This bridge is part of U.S. Route 275, making it an important path for cars and trucks.
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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, photographed in 2006
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 Location in Iowa
Location in the United States
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| Location |    US 275 / Iowa 92 / N-92, 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 |
Contents
The First Bridge
The first bridge was a long structure called a Warren through-truss bridge. It was about 4,378 feet (1,334 meters) long. The road on the bridge was only about 22 feet (6.8 meters) wide.
Building the Old Bridge
In 1931, Omaha tried to raise $2 million to build the bridge. When they couldn't sell enough bonds, a group called the Omaha Bridge Commission stepped in. They got money from the Public Works Administration to help build it.
The first plans for the bridge had seven sections. But the United States Department of War decided to change the river's path. So, the bridge design was updated to have two main sections. These sections were each 525 feet (160 meters) long.
The Kansas City Bridge Company built this first bridge. It opened on January 18, 1936. The bridge was 22.2 feet (6.8 meters) wide and 2,126 feet (648 meters) long. When it was first built, the support pillars were on dry land. This was because the river had not yet been moved to its new channel.
Bridge Tolls and Importance
For many years, people had to pay a small fee, called a toll, to cross the bridge. These tolls stopped on September 25, 1947.
The bridge was very important for the Omaha Stockyards. Trucks carrying animals could use it to go directly to the stockyards. Before this bridge, trucks had to drive through downtown Omaha. This new route saved a lot of time and effort.
Changes and Demolition
In 1992, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it was recognized as an important historical structure. In 1995, its name changed to the Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Later, in November 2006, Nebraska put a weight limit on the bridge. Vehicles heavier than 5 tons could not cross. In June 2008, a height limit was also added. Vehicles had to be under 8 feet (2.4 meters) tall.
The old bridge closed on September 8, 2009. This was so a new bridge could be built next to it. By March 2010, the original bridge was completely taken down. It was removed from the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
The New Bridge
The new bridge is also a Warren through truss bridge. It is 625 feet (190 meters) long in its main section. This modern bridge has four wide lanes, each 12 feet (3.7 meters) across.
It also has a raised area in the middle, 4 feet (1.2 meters) wide. There are wide shoulders, 10 feet (3 meters) wide, for safety. Plus, there's a 10-foot (3-meter) wide path for bikes and walkers.
The entire new bridge is about 4,300 feet (1,310 meters) long. It is much wider than the old one, at 87 feet 8 inches (26.7 meters) across. The new South Omaha Veterans Memorial Bridge opened on May 28, 2010.
See also
- List of crossings of the Missouri River
- List of historic bridges in Nebraska
