THE POWESHIEK COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS HAVE SIGNED OFF ON A PROJECT TO SAVE THE HISTORIC McDOWELL BRIDGE.
NORTH SKUNK RIVER GREENBELT ASSOCIATION EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JULIE BOWERS REPORTS THE COUNTY SUPERVISORS HAVE SIGNED AGREEMENTS ALLOWING THE ASSOCIATION TO BUY THE BRIDGE, AND LEASE TEN ACRES OF LAND IN THE MILLGROVE ACCESS WILDLIFE AREA. THAT WILL ALLOW THE ASSOCIATION TO PERFORM RESTORATION WORK ON THE BRIDGE, SINCE IT WOULD AT LEAST TEMPORARILY NO LONGER BE COUNTY PROPERTY. THE AGREEMENTS ARE CONDITIONAL THAT THE ASSOCIATION WORKS WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES ON HOW TO RECOVER THE BRIDGE WITH THE LEAST AMOUNT OF DESTRUCTION.
ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO, THE BRIDGE…SPANNING THE NORTH SKUNK RIVER IN THE SOUTHWEST CORNER OF THE COUNTY…WAS SWEPT OFF ITS MOORINGS BY HIGH WATERS AND CARRIED SEVERAL HUNDRED YARDS DOWNSTREAM. THE BRIDGE IS 127 YEARS OLD… AND IS CONSIDERED A RARE EXAMPLE OF THE “BOWSTRING” STYLE OF IRON BRIDGES THAT WERE COMMONLY CONSTRUCTED IN THE LATE 19TH CENTURY.
BOWERS IS HOPING THAT WORK TO LIFT THE BRIDGE OUT OF THE RIVER AND RESTORE IT CAN PROCEED ONCE WATERS HAVE RECEDED, AND THE RIVER BANKS HAVE FIRMED UP.