Supplying the eastern U.S. markets, Sioux City at the turn of the 20th century was a major meat packing center. A bridge that would provide access to northeast Nebraska and Wyoming agriculture markets was a foregone eventuality. It also was an ideal location for railroad routes using river valleys: the broad Missouri floodplain south to Omaha, the Big Sioux to the north, the Floyd to the northeast, which breached the river's bluffs. The Iowa side butts into Loess clay bluffs immediately downstream of the mouth of the Floyd River. The bluffs also provided a ready-made incline up to the 81' high bridge. In Sioux City, trains started up grade at Leech Avenue; and the grade ends near G Street in South Sioux City - about 1 mile of grade on each side up to the bridge.
Submitted by Rich A.
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