After years of planning, ground will be broken this afternoon (at 2 o’clock) on a new bridge over the Missouri River to join Nebraska and Iowa. Megan Lucas, president and CEO of the Bellevue Nebraska Chamber of Commerce, calls the event historic.
“It’s a partnership between the Iowa Department of Transportation and the Nebraska Department of Roads,” Lucas says. “The bridge is a new bridge that will connect Glenwood in Mills County, Iowa, to Sarpy County, Nebraska, so it’s going in between Bellevue and Plattsmouth and it’s a brand new bridge.” Lucas says now, drivers have to opt for bridges at Plattsmouth or Bellevue, both of which are two-lane toll bridges. The new four-lane span will be free to motorists. Lucas says the new span brings endless opportunities to both states.
“It opens up possibilities for new, future development for both Nebraska and Iowa and all the communities it will be connecting,” Lucas says. “It will be a new four-lane road and bridge over the Missouri River connecting Highway 34 at the Iowa 29 intersection.” The new road and bridge will be ready for traffic by the spring of 2013. Dignitaries from both states will attend the ground-breaking, including
Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman and from Iowa: Senator Tom Harkin, Congressman Jeff Fortenberry and Congressman Steve King.