New bridge to span Niobrara River

MEADVILLE, Neb. — Replacing a nostalgic one-lane bridge on a national scenic river is something of a big deal.

Because the bridge didn't pass structural inspections, it required either extensive repairs or replacement to continue providing access across the Niobrara River between Brown and Keya Paha Counties.

Temporary repairs were made, and public meetings were held to explore long-term options.

A new bridge is now under construction adjacent to the old bridge, which will remain in service until the new one is completed. The total project cost will be $400,000. The two counties are sharing the expense.

Norfolk Contracting Inc. had the successful bid of $360,000, which includes constructing the new bridge and removing the old one.

The new bridge will be two lanes — 24 feet wide and 240 feet long, with at least a 20-ton capacity. The existing bridge has a three-ton limit.

Although the old bridge was not listed on the National Register of Historic Places, it was eligible for listing. Because of that, the State Historic Preservation Office requires extensive documentation of the historic bridge.

Brown County Board member Buddy Small, who is helping shepherd the project, said Niobrara Valley Consultants of Valentine will do the documentation for $7,000.

The recording process requires photographs and drawings of the bridge from numerous angles, exactly the way it is. Every piece in the bridge must be measured precisely. So far the company has taken more than 100 pictures.

“It's quite a process,” Small said, “but it's state law, and there is no way around it.”

Small is keeping his own records and photographs of the project, and he travels to the project site nearly every day. He has asked the contractor for two pieces of the old bridge, which he plans to offer for display to museums in the two counties.

The rest of the old bridge will be disassembled and removed, right down to the pilings in the riverbed.

“I understand people's sentimentality about the old bridge,” Small said, “but to move and reconstruct it would be a major and expensive undertaking.”

Because the site is within the Niobrara National Scenic River corridor, the number of bridge crossings cannot increase, so the old bridge must be removed.

Although November's mild weather gave the crews a good start on the project, recent single-digit temperatures have slowed work, as concrete can't be poured. Work will resume as soon as the weather warms, but the final part of the project — pouring the concrete deck — won't take place until spring.

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