Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge

The Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge is a through arch bridge which carries U.S. Route 77 across the Missouri River between Sioux City, Iowa, and South Sioux City, Nebraska.[1]

Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge
Siouxland Veterans Bridge, seen from the Nebraska side
Coordinates42°29′15″N 96°24′49″W / 42.48750°N 96.41361°W / 42.48750; -96.41361
Carries US 77
CrossesMissouri River
LocaleSioux City, Iowa, and South Sioux City, Nebraska
Characteristics
DesignThrough arch bridge
Total length1,502.4 feet (457.9 m)
Width63.0 feet (19.2 m)
Longest span425.2 feet (129.6 m)
Clearance above17.1 feet (5.2 m)
History
Opened1981
Statistics
Daily traffic28,600
Location
Map

The bridge replaced the Combination Bridge, so called because it carried both rail and highway traffic, built in 1896. The previous bridge was documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in 1980, prior to its replacement.[2]

The current bridge was dedicated in July 1981, and the previous one was demolished. However, in May 1982 a 32-inch (810 mm) crack was discovered in the downstream tie girder. The bridge was hurriedly closed, and measures taken to ensure that it would not collapse into the river, affecting barge traffic. Initially, it was estimated that repairs would take six days; in fact, the bridge was completely closed for seven months, and did not fully re-open to traffic until May 1983.[3][4][5]

See also

edit

References

edit
  1. ^ "Historic Bridges of the U.S. - Missouri River U.S. 77 Bridge". Bridgehunter.com.
  2. ^ Dennett, Muessig & Associates, Ltd. (1980). "Pacific Shortline Bridge" (PDF). Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: Library of Congress. Retrieved December 19, 2020.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. ^ Linck, Michele (August 3, 2007). "Sioux City bridges have had their troubles, too". Sioux City Journal. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  4. ^ Weeks, John A. "Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge". John A. Weeks III. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  5. ^ Hanson, J. M.; Koob, M. J.; Blake, G. T. (1988). "Tie girder fracture in Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge". Transportation Research Record (1180).
edit