Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1917-01-12
BRIDGE ACROSS MISSOURI RIVER
PLACED IN POSITION IN ONE HOUR

similar temporary pile pier extensions
were arranged on the north Of the
masonry piers The old spans which
were replaced were raised and mount
ed on rollers. and were rolled to the
north On the temporary pile extern
sions. and the new spans then raised
on temporary piers On the south AMI
rolled into permanent position on the
masonry piers. Suitable equipment
and organization had TO be arranged
for. so that the time required for
making this change in the four river
spans was about one hour The pow
er used in moving the old bridge u
the falsework and the new structurs
TO the permanent concrete piers con-
sisted Of five hosting engines go--
erned by signals so that the move
ment was uniformly carried out from
end to end The terms Of the erection
contract provided that the erection
forces operations should interfere az
little as possible with traffic over the
structures
The construction OF the faIsework
erection OF the new steel. the removal
Of the old. and the placing OF the new
spans in the new position. within the
comparatively short time mentioned
above. without serious interruption TO
an almost constant stream OF passen-
ger and freight traffic. was an under
taking OF considerable Importance. the
train movement over this bridge az
times having reached the total OF $50
trains per - hours. or an average OF
one train every four and one-half
There were employed on the recon
struction of this bridge about 200
men
The excellence Of the design. and
nature OF the construction
1f the bridge now being replaced. sf-
ter thirty years Of service. are a testi-
noniaI TO the engineering ability OF
the original builaers. The bridge be-
Ing replaced was designed and built
under the direction Of Gee. s Nor
son. a well known structural eng1-
neer. and by reason Of the care which
has been exercised in its maintenance
L would without doubt continue to
serve its purpose for an indefinite
number OF years in the future, the ne
cessity for its present reconstruction
being due to the unprecedented in
crease in axle loadings OF railroad To-
-omotfves and rolling stock during the
past several years
The new superstructure IS the thtrd
steel railroad bridge in this location
since the opening Of the Union Paci-
tic line. Prior TO the construction OF
the railroad bridge over the Missouri
river at Omaha, a ferry service was
nain-ained from Council Bluffs 10
OMAHA by the Union Pacific Transfer
company. which was organized and
commenced operations in 1855. this
'erry service being maintained until
he completion Of the original bridge.
which was started in 1859 and COM
,leted in 1872.
In addition to the Union Paeifie's
,wn business handled over the bridge
,etween Council Bluffs and the west
he bridge is used by six other rail-
Dads. the Burlington. c & N W.
soek Island. c. N & St P wabash
nd c. c. ".
In the foregoing figures it appears
hat the old bridge cost more for con
truction than the new one. This is
ne TO the fact that the cost Of piers
, included in the old bridge and these
,me piers will be used for the new
ne. The estimated cost OF building
,e original piers and in which is in
uded the material was approximate
r ss0eaOo
II is a notable fact that all three OF
le Union Pacific bridges that have
cen built across the Missouri river
,cupied identicaIly the same location
he bridge completed in 1872 was the
rst bridge TO span the Missouri at
~ point and its location marks the
-ossing used by explorers. travellers
Id seekers that have gone west over
.e Overland route for almost fifty
sars-