Nebraska's long relationship with the railroad is well documented, and the state is packed with artifacts from the railroad industry. One such artifact is hiding out in northeast Omaha, and unless you were looking for it, you might not even realize it exists.
The Illinois Central Missouri River Bridge spans the Missouri near Eppley Airfield. Altogether, it spans 1,625 feet.
It's also been known as the IC Bridge, or simply the East Omaha Bridge.
The first thing you notice about the bridge is that the Nebraska end stretches out halfway across the river, while the Iowa end is turned parallel to the shore.
How did this unusual half-bridge come to be? It's actually a double-swing railroad bridge, and at one time it was the longest of its kind in the world.
The first iteration of the bridge was built way back in 1893 as a single-swing bridge owned by the Omaha Bridge and Terminal Railway Company.
Following reconstructions in 1904 and 1908, the Omaha side was also made to be movable. The bridge would swing open for barge traffic; eventually it was closed to all traffic during the winter when the river was closed to barges.
Thanks to the reconstructions, the two spans are made of different materials. On the Iowa side, the span is wrought iron. On the Nebraska side, it's steel.
The reason for the unique bridge's existence was the Missouri's fickle course and flow. It ensured a stable railroad crossing between Nebraska and Iowa, and an easy passage through the area for barges, regardless of the river's flow.
A number of factors - including the construction of Gavin's Point Dam which limits the flow of water in this segment of the river - led to the bridge being removed from service in 1980.
The Iowa side was permanently propped open so that river traffic can easily pass through. The Nebraska span still extends out over the water.
The bridge's future was uncertain, but in the 1990s it was decided that the bridge would not be demolished. Despite having sat in disuse for so long, it is a theoretical backup crossing in case anything should happen to the Union Pacific Missouri River Bridge which currently carries railroad traffic over the river.
Above, a huge tree trunk is wedged onto a support that stands more than six feet tall. It appears to be the result of the heavy river floods several years ago.
This sign at the Nebraska entrance to the bridge span warns against shooting firearms in the area. It's full of bullet holes.
The bridge is a surprisingly beautiful piece of architecture. The river is very slow and peaceful at this point, and the weeds and overgrown grass make the structure look almost as if it grew up out of the dirt itself.
Concrete steps lead up to the span from either side. Even after all these years, they look sturdy enough to bear weight.
The bridge is located in a remote area that most people would never think to visit. It's visible from Freedom Park, where it's a surprising but breathtaking upstream sight.
But up close, it's even more impressive. The careful architecture and unique nature of the bridge are just remarkable. It's not hard to imagine what it must have been like here when railroad traffic routinely rolled through.
Today, the bridge is owned by The Illinois Central Railroad, but it appears to be on airport property. There are several signs warning against trespassing on airport land. We don't advise visiting the bridge without permission. BridgeHunter has some additional information on the unique bridge's history right here.
If you can't get enough of old abandoned Nebraska structures, take a look at these 22 beautiful photographs of an abandoned slaughterhouse.
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