Inspection of Closed Main Street Bridge in Charles City Could Determine Future
The future of the Main Street Bridge in Charles City, closed by flooding since June 23rd, could be determined by an upcoming inspection.
Mayor Dead Andrews says the bridge was closed and remains closed for cautionary reasons.
Andrews says the City hopes to have bridge inspectors, Calhoun-Burns & Associates, in town the week of July 8th, although, it’s not their first review of the structure.
In April 2022, the City Council approved to have Calhoun-Burns study the feasibility of replacing the bridge, now almost 115-years-old. However, Andrews says there’s been little discussion since, but that’s likely to change with the latest round of flooding.
Until that inspection is complete, the Brantingham/Highway 18 bridge remains the only path (within City limits) for vehicles to cross from the north side of town to the south side and vice versa.
That bridge was also shut down by the flood, dissecting the City in two for the first time since the 2008 flood. Fortunately, that closure only lasted about 12 hours on June 24th.
