route iowa highway short highway iowa highway begins bridge river sight mouth mississippi_river runs northern bank mississippi downtown turns southeast meets southern end highway leaves iowa hamilton bridge mississippi_river route designated nationally remained largely unchanged highway originally crossed mississippi second bridge built operated location designed wagons early automobiles crossing rail bridge difficult larger modern vehicles specifically semi trucks result new automobile bridge built directly south older span hamilton bridge opened months early budget route description begins bridge river river mouth mississippi_river visible southeast bridge landing iowa river routes curve east splits north business route begins entering town west 7th street highway passes pillars mark northeastern corner park routes continue east past old school hides city million water tower foot high tower second largest elevated storage tank united_states came online december crosses bridge connects underneath single line passes routes descend hill head downtown climb intersection main street main street ways business route turns northwest begins mile journey northward turns southeast mississippi_river intersection directional signs instead southeast northwest orientation city westbound direction listed missouri eastbound illinois running southern downtown crosses mississippi hamilton bridge adjacent older rail bridge bridges lock dam hydroelectric power plant dominate northern view river history late 1860s built original location foot wide steel bridge set tracks lanes wagon traffic pedestrian traffic feet swing span allowed river traffic cross bridge opened locomotive cross bridge crushed pivot point swing span replaced days later years later river steamer sank collided fixed span bridge ship bridge span destroyed span replaced wooden covered bridge built place second bridge known built 1910s modern trains pushing bridge short ton load capacity businessmen owners original bridge thought bridge adequate rebuild bridge threatening build new span new dam built near bridge new bridge new dam require congressional approval form house resolution hearings committee chairman urged reconstruct bridge recommend passage house resolution bridge company relented planning began immediately bridge company contracted design new bridge determined original bridge rail traffic proposed options single track rail bridge roadway tracks bridge similar original built modern standards option chosen piers bridge cut feet inch wide bridge built opened traffic original roadway wood replaced steel designated nationally area west alexandria missouri iowa downtown south downtown replaced iowa crossed mississippi_river rail bridge designation route largely remained eastern end changed slightly opening hamilton bridge 1970s politicians sides river began seek funding build new road bridge river rail bridge adequate rail traffic proved challenge drivers western terminus bridge featured curve easily wagons early automobiles dangerous semi trucks governor convinced new bridge needed riding view underside road deck new lane hamilton bridge opened november nearly months ahead schedule budget major intersections
U.S. Route 136 in Iowa