1924 Pedestrian/US-81 Meridian Bridge over Missouri River at Yankton, SD

(Archived Bridge Hunter; no Historic Bridges; Satellite, 309 photos)

Gavins Point Dam is just a little upstream from here. I did not see a lock in a satellite image, so the lift span must be a relic of the steamship days. And that explains why the span can be left down for pedestrian use.

"Built 1924; rehabilitated 1953; bypassed by Discovery Bridge in 2008." The 2,887' (280m) long bridge has a 250' (76m) lift span. [BridgeHunter]

Street View, Nov 2021

Robert Elder via BridgeHunter

Looking closer, there are no cables or counterweights left on the towers.

Street View, Nov 2021

DOT
This source specifies a length of 3,013' (918m).
When built, the lower deck carried a railroad. "It is today distinguished as the only vertical lift span in Nebraska and South Dakota."

Obviously, each deck carried a lane of traffic by 2008.

Street View, Oct 2008

BridgeHunter says the railroad was Milwaukee and Great Northern. Great Northern seems to be a mistake. And the Milwaukee no longer crossed the river by 1955. The railroad that terminated at Croton was C&NW.

1955/67 Sioux City Quad @ 250,000

Stuart Foster posted three photos with the comment: "The old US Hwy 81 bridge over the Missouri River at Yankton, SD. A double Decker that I have driven semi over several times. Southbound is a tight fit, northbound, on top, is a spooky ride."

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3, cropped