Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge

Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge

Siouxland Veterans Bridge, seen from the Nebraska side
Carries U.S. Route 77
Crosses Missouri River
Locale Sioux City, Iowa and South Sioux City, Nebraska
Design Through arch bridge
Total length 1,502.4 feet (457.9 m)
Width 63.0 feet (19.2 m)
Longest span 425.2 feet (129.6 m)
Vertical clearance 17.1 feet (5.2 m)
Opened 1981
Daily traffic 28,600

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]

The bridge replaced the Combination Bridge, so called because it carried both rail and highway traffic, built in 1896. The new bridge was dedicated in July 1981, and the old one 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.[2][3][4]

References

  1. ^ Historic Bridges of the U.S. - Missouri River U.S. 77 Bridge
  2. ^ Linck, Michele. "Sioux City bridges have had their troubles, too". Sioux City Journal. 2007-08-03. Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  3. ^ Weeks, John. "Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge". [John A. Weeks III.] Retrieved 2010-10-19.
  4. ^ Hanson, J. M., M. J. Koob, and G. T. Blake (1988). Abstract, "Tie girder fracture in Siouxland Veterans Memorial Bridge". Original paper appeared in Transportation Research Record, no. 1180.