1956 US-30 Gateway Suspension Bridge over Mississippi River at Clinton, IA

(Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; John A. Weeks III; Satellite)

Lincoln Highway Overview

This bridge was designed by Modjeski and Masters. [HistoricBridges]

There were also 1891 and 1975 bridges at this crossing.

The UP/C&NW Bridge is in the background.

John Weeks
"This bridge has a rather interesting design. Notice that the cables are straight on the ends of the bridge, but sag in a curve between the towers. The reason for the cables being straight outside of the towers is that there are no vertical cables hanging down to support the bridge. If you look at a typical suspension bridge, there are vertical cables, and that pulls down on the main cables, causing them to form curves. This unique design is called an unloaded backspan. The result is that the main cables only support the main span, and do not support the spans outside of the towers."

The UP/C&NW Bridge is in the foreground in this photo.

Terry Campie posted

IAGenWeb
1956 news article about its opening

Jan Danielsen posted
Tom Behringer SB Pool 14 Clinton, Iowa.
[The tow appears to have a second towboat to do bow steering.]

Mickie Lynn posted
Gateway bridge from Clinton, Iowa to slightly south of Fulton, Illinois.

Jen Danielsen posted
Cooperative Venture NB Pool 14 Clinton, Iowa.

Matthew Wong, Mar 2019

Street View

Chuck Holst posted
Neil N. Diehl and Capt. Erik Skoe at Clinton

.

Clinton Herald posted 16 photos with the comment:

FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Bridging past & present 🌉

As we celebrate our 170th anniversary at the Clinton Herald, we are looking back at the landmarks that have connected our community across the Mississippi River for generations.

Long before today’s modern steel and suspension crossings, travelers and trains relied on daring engineering feats to link towns and streets together. From the monumental opening of the original 1858–1860 railroad bridge, to the historic 1891 Lyons-Fulton Bridge, the electric-powered 1909 Chicago & Northwestern Swing Bridge, and the 1956 debut of the graceful Gateway Bridge—these spans have always been more than just concrete and steel. They are lifelines of commerce, travel, and homecomings.

Take a look at these archived photos from our vaults! Which of these bridges do you remember crossing the most?

1
1890

2
1891

3
Circa 1951

4
Gateway Bridge Construction 1954-1956

5
Gateway Bridge Construction 1954-1956

6
Gateway Bridge Construction 1954-1956

7
Gateway Bridge Construction 1954-1956

8
Gateway Bridge Construction 1954-1956

9
Gateway Bridge Construction 1954-1956

10

11
1956

12
1956

13
1956

14

15
1974

16
1974