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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…
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
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.…
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.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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…
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…
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.
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.
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…
Fading Ak-Sar-Ben scene
The remains of the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge came a step closer to obliteration Thursday. Crews continued blasting the bridge's piers, shown behind the crane barge, to bring them down near water level. Truman Ferguson, superintendent of the demolition job,…
Down to open water
The last above-water scraps of the mid-channel pier that once supported the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge Wednesday were being scooped onto a waiting barge for disposal. Large iron plates that were attached to the pier for protection against the ravages of the…
CB Park board would save, help develop Ak Bridge pier
The object . . . of the Council Bluffs Park Board's efforts the next few weeks will be this three-pillared Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge pier, on which is proposed a two-story, quasi-public building. --Nonpareil Photo.
Ak-Bridge scene
Ak-Bridge scene . . .won't be changing much in the next few months as decisions are made on how to get rid of the last 400-foot long center span. Several plans have been offered. --Nonpareil Photo.
Bridge executioners arrive
Swapping set . . . from the Iowa side of the Missouri River, Allied Structural Steel employees will soon be moving to Nebraska to prepare for final demolition of the Ak-Sar-Ben Bridge which overshadows the river scene. --Nonpareil Photo.