Liberty Memorial Bridge, Historic bridge across Missouri River in Bismarck, North Dakota.
The Liberty Memorial Bridge is a steel through truss structure that spans the Missouri River in Bismarck, connecting the two sides of the river valley. The design used a Warren-Turner configuration, a structural method that was chosen for its ability to support heavy traffic loads across the wide waterway.
The bridge opened in 1922 as the first vehicular crossing of the Missouri River in North Dakota. This opening finally linked the two settlements with a permanent road connection, transforming how people moved between the communities.
The crossing became a vital passage point for travelers and traders moving through the region for nearly a century. It represented a moment when the difficult journey between the two river communities became manageable for ordinary people and commerce.
The bridge operated for over 80 years as the primary route along U.S. Highway 10 between the two communities. Although a replacement bridge was built in 2008, the original structure remains visible and accessible for those interested in the area's transportation history.
This was the only Warren-Turner through truss bridge ever built in North Dakota. The construction proved that this design method could work in the region, even though it was rarely used elsewhere in the state.
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