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One bolt at a time
For a cutting torch man, working your way to Omaha from Council Bluffs is a slow one-bold-at-a-time pace. As the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge is chopped up for scrap, traffic continues to roar across the shiny new I-480 bridge to the right. Demolition of the…
16-minute hearing. No protests to Ak-Bridge closure
At hearing . . . on closing the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge and its right-of-way are City Atty. Hugh Finerty and Asst. Iowa Atty. Gen. Robert Lego.--Nonpareil Photo.
As it slowly rusts... willows are lulling old bridge to sleep
Whispering willows . . . in the shadow of the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge set a relaxed mood for the 78-year-old span, the home of many generations of pigeons. --Nonpareil Photo.
All but gone
All but gone. The bare bones of the last remaining span of Ak-San-Ben Bridge, which for 79 years served motorists between Council Bluffs and Omaha, were scheduled to be blasted into oblivion Saturday afternoon by experts subcontracted to Allied…
All but gone...
All but gone . . . is the section of bridge from the Iowa side, out to the first pier in the Missouri River. These large barges will be used in the salvage work. The pier will be saved to serve as a foundation for a proposed two-story office building…
Steel patternwork
Steel patternwork . . .in the main span of Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge will be partially dismantled and partially floated away late this summer. Robert Hoenig, job superintendent for Industrial Construction Division of Allied Structured Steel Co., surveys the…
Flu halts Ak Bridge demolition
The steel skeleton . . . of the late Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge backs up floating ice in the Missouri River as it lies in state on the Nebraska bank. --Nonpareil Photo.
Birds lose nesting places as . . . Ak span fades away
Roller nest . . . inspected by Robert Hoenig allowed old Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge to exercise its joints once in awhile. -- Nonpareil Photo.
Scrap span plan junked, coup de grace delayed
Superstructure . . . of the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge has gained a short reprieve from destruction due to weak members. -- Nonpareil Photo.
Before reopening
Before reopening . . . of Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge, Mayor Joseph Katelman and Manager Pete Pakey view barrel barricades at Douglas Street approach to the old span. At left, autos climb the Interstate-480 Bridge ramp. -- Nonpareil Photo.
It's just about gone
Truman Furgeson, superintendent for Allied Structural Steel Co., Hammond, Ind. watches as crews continue whittling away at the bones of the Ak-Sar_Ben Bridge on the Nebraska side of the Missouri River. Bridge portions in the water were fished out…
Setting the sand
About 8,500 of sand was packed around the six dynamite charges on the bridge as a precaution against destructive concussion. Workmen were hoisted to the top of the west end of the span to complete the packing shortly before the detonation.
Bridge demolition
Some trusses of the old Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge between Council Bluffs and Omaha on the Missouri Rive were cut loose Friday and lowered to barges moored below. On the other side of the bridge a truss was lowered by the crane mounted on one of the barges.…
Winding up his work
Mark Loizeau with his father, John, set and detonated dynamite charges that dropped the last span of the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge Saturday. He was pleased with the demolition which went off with a loud boom and few hitches. -- Nonpareil photos
Old bridge is framed
The 79-year-old remains of the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge, blasted into the water last Saturday, were being cut up for scrap Wednesday by workmen for Allied Structured Steel of Hammond, Ind. The 100,000 tons of steel will be sliced into smaller sections for…
Union Pacific Bridge
Photograph of of Union Pacific bridge
Union Pacific Bridge
Photograph of women and children on Council Bluffs riverfront with Union Pacific bridge in background
Union Pacific Bridge
Photograph of the construction of the Union Pacific bridge over the Missouri River
Union Pacific Bridge
Photograph of the Union Pacific bridge over the Missouri River
Union Pacific Bridge
Photograph of Council Bluffs riverfront with Union Pacific bridge in background