A PLANNED LIFT OF AN HISTORIC BRIDGE ACROSS THE SKUNK RIVER WILL NOT GO OFF AS HOPED BECAUSE OF RISING WATER LEVELS ON THE RIVER.
FRIENDS OF SKUNK RIVER BRIDGE PRESIDENT JULIE BOWER SAYS CREWS ARE UNABLE TO BUILD LEVEES TO SUPPORT THE LIFT CRANES. SHE SAYS NOW IT’S JUST WAIT AND WATCH FOR THE RIVER LEVEL TO GO DOWN. PETERSON CONTRACTORS OF REINBECK HAS BEEN HIRED FOR 45-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO DO THE LIFT.
THE BRIDGE IN QUESTION IS THE McDOWELL IRON BOWSTRING BRIDGE IN THE MILLGROVE ACCESS WILDLIFE AREA IN THE FAR SOUTHWEST CORNER OF POWESHIEK COUNTY. IT WAS DAMAGED BY ICE-JAMS LAST YEAR. THE HOPE IS TO GET IT LIFTED OUT OF HARM’S WAY, ONTO DRY LAND, RESTORED AND REPLACED.
THE BRIDGE WAS BUILT IN 1883 AND SPANS 120 FEET. HISTORIC BRIDGES – DOT – ORG STATES THAT Bowstring truss bridges areone of the rarest, most unique, and most important historic bridges in the country…AND The McDowell Bridge is significant enough that even ITS parts arerare enough that they could be a noteworthy exhibit in a museum. THE WEBSITE RATES THE BRIDGE A NINE ON A TEN POINT SCALE FOR BOTH NATIONAL AND LOCAL SIGNIFICANCE.
TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BRIDGE, CLICK ON THE LINKS BELOW
