Plattsmouth Bridge
Project #: DPS-34-7(114)
Control #: 22041

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Project Contacts from Nebraska & Iowa:
Mike Owen, NDOR, 402-479-4735
Tony Kessler, NDOR, 402-479-3994
Tim Weander, NDOR, 402-595-2534, ext. 210
John Selmer, IDOT, 712-243-3355

Proposed Construction

The proposed project involves replacing the bridge deck and several structural members on the existing historic Plattsmouth Bridge in Cass County. This project is being constructed instead of a new bridge and bypass of Plattsmouth because of a funding shortfall for transportation projects in the region. Although a new bridge and bypass will not be built, the City of Plattsmouth, NDOR and Iowa DOT recognize the importance of maintaining a roadway connection between Plattsmouth and southwest Iowa and have agreed to rehabilitate the existing bridge as a lower cost solution to maintain connectivity between Nebraska and southwest Iowa.

Lighting/Signals/Signing

Roadway lighting will be installed to illuminate the bridge for motorists. The light poles will be chosen to reflect the historical nature of the bridge and would complement the existing structure as requested by the City of Plattsmouth.

Related Studies
Rehabilitation of the existing Plattsmouth Bridge has been chosen as the selected alternative for the Plattsmouth Bridge Study instead of a new bridge and bypass due to funding constraints.

Right-of-Way and Relinquishments

No additional right-of-way will be required for the rehabilitation. However, there are additional steps that need to be taken in order for the rehabilitation to be completed.

The Plattsmouth Bridge is currently privately owned by the Plattsmouth Bridge Company. The Nebraska Department of Roads and the Iowa Department of Transportation cannot provide funding for rehabilitation to the bridge, unless it is transferred to public ownership. The Nebraska Department of Roads is working with the City of Plattsmouth to create a public bridge commission that would then acquire the bridge from the private owners. Once the bridge has been transferred to public ownership, the Nebraska Department of Roads and the Iowa Department of Transportation can provide funds for rehabilitation of the bridge.

Under public ownership the bridge commission will continue to collect tolls to provide funds to pay the cost to acquire the bridge, to pay for future maintenance, and to conduct periodic inspections of the bridge.

In the future, it is the intention of the Nebraska Department of Roads and the Iowa Department of Transportation to remove the U.S. 34 highway designation from the existing route between U.S. 75 and I-29 and relinquish the maintenance and control of the existing road to the City and Counties. Upon completion of the new bridge and roadway in southern Sarpy County, the U.S. 34 highway designation will move to the new bridge. As part of the rehabilitation project for the Plattsmouth Bridge, the Nebraska Department of Roads has agreed to pay the local cost share for the rehabilitation. This cost share is contingent on the City and Counties agreeing to take over maintenance and control of the existing U.S. 34 alignment from U.S. 75 to I-29.

Phasing

The bridge will be closed to traffic for the duration of the rehabilitation, approximately six months.

Schedule

The project is currently scheduled for letting in May 2008; however, the letting is dependent on development of the following items:

•  Creation of the Plattsmouth Bridge Commission.
•  Transfer of the Plattsmouth Bridge to public ownership.
•  A signed relinquishment agreement to transfer maintenance and control of the existing U.S. 34 roadway to the city and counties.
•  Availability of funds.
  

Project Cost

The project is estimated to cost $3.2 million.