Border Bridge - Nebraska & South Dakota

            The Meridian Highway Bridge is a bridge that formerly carried U.S. Route 81 across the Missouri River between Nebraska and South Dakota. The Meridian Highway Bridge connects Yankton, South Dakota with rural Cedar County, Nebraska. The Meridian Bridge is a double deck bridge, with the top level having carried traffic into South Dakota from Nebraska, and the lower level having carried traffic into Nebraska from South Dakota.

Vertical lift bridge double deck, Pratt through truss.

History

The bridge crosses the Missouri River, connecting Yankton, South Dakota to the north with Cedar County, Nebraska to the south. Prior to the construction of the bridge, traffic moved between these two points via a ferry service, started in 1870, and a seasonal pontoon bridge, first installed in 1890. The pontoon bridge was disassembled and rebuilt twice a year, once to float on open water, and once to be placed on solid ice. After a 1915 initiative to build a permanent bridge faltered with the U.S. entrance into World War I, a new effort was started by the Yankton Chamber of Commerce 1919. Though fundraising problems caused a temporary halt in 1922, the new bridge, featuring a movable span to allow for river navigation, was completed during the summer of 1924.

The dedication ceremony was held on October 11, 1924 and the bridge opened as a toll bridge. It was the last link of the Meridian Highway, which became U.S. Route 81, to be completed. It was designed for use by trains on the lower level of the bridge and vehicular traffic on the upper level; a lift mechanism allowed river traffic to pass below. However, trains never used the lower level. In 1953, all tolls were lifted and the two levels were converted to one-way traffic, northbound on the top, southbound on the bottom. In the 1980s, the lift mechanism and counterweights were removed, and the decorative iron railings on the upper level were replaced by Jersey barricades.

The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1993. 93000537

On May 9, 2008, a 10-ton gross weight limit was placed on the bridge after an inspection found corrosion on the gusset plates. It was replaced by the Discovery Bridge upon its opening on October 11, 2008, exactly 84 years after the dedication of the Meridian Highway Bridge.

The bridge was used as location for filming a scene of the 2016 film Until Forever.

Present and future use

With completion of the Discovery Bridge, the Meridian Bridge has been converted into a pedestrian/bike trail. The bridge reopened in November 2011 to non-motorized traffic only. A two block-long pedestrian plaza has been added.

The bridge spans the Missouri National Recreational River, a unit of the National Park Service created under the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.

(Wikipedia)

Taken in: United States / South Dakota / Yankton / Yankton (show map)

Taken on: May 7, 2023

Tags:

Bridge

Border

Nebraska

Historic

Steel

Truss

NRHP

93000537

Best

Travel

Architecture

Clouds

Sky

Meridian

Highway

Double Deck

Vertical Lift

Footbridge

Pedestrian

Vanishing Point

Symmetry

Bike

Trail

Missouri

River

Yankton

Midwest

Nikon

D800

Light

Shadows

Grate

Deck

Rust « less

Sets appears in: • Bridges on the NRHP • NRHP more » • Architecture Best • Bridges Best • Clouds Best • Travel USA Best « less

Groups appears in: • RUSTY and CRUSTY • Nebraska - The Good Life more » • Lights and Shadows • * Vanishing Points * • Beautiful Light • Bridges • travel around the world • The Light Fantastic • all things rusty • Symmetry • Midwest • visit the world - the travel guide • Travel Photography • Underneath the Bridge • The Rust Bucket • TRAVELPIX • Nikon Digital Magic • Bridges of the World • Bridges - Brücken [Steel - Stahl] • South Dakota • Light&shadow...natural light sources only • Bridges Across • Nikon DSLR Users • Natures Light • Rusted • Traveller's World • Bridge Photos - Only Best Quality - By Invitation Only • Historic Bridges • Footbridges of the World • Bridge Crossing • Sunlight / Luz do sol • TRAVEL Photography! • NIKON PROFESSIONAL • Architecture Travellers • Puentes/Bridges • Bridges around the world • The Bridge • Nebraska In Pictures • We travel the World • Traveler's Photos • fotogezgin-travel photographer • The World of Travel • !!Perfect Composition!! • Bridges, Bridges, and MORE BRIDGES • World Travelogue • Travel - Around the World • Silhouettes, Lights and Reflections • Digital Masterpiece • Flickr Travels Around the World • Nikon D800-D850 and Nikon Z7-Z9 Users Group • ` FLICKR ´ • Nikon D800/D800E Users • Nikon D800/D800E CLUB • ★★ Nikon D800 - Nikon D800E - Images • Bridge Photography • All Bridges • brilliant flickr • Nikon DSLR Photographers • Bridges over ..... • Travel Photography - Through the eyes of the world • Bridge Architecture • A BRIDGES 2 • Nebraska: “Honestly, it’s not for everyone.” « less

Stats: 2,909 views / 1 comment

Link to this photo view:
Link to this photo large view: