The future of the Main Street Bridge in Charles City, closed by flooding over two weeks ago, could be determined by an inspection this week.
The bridge was shut down at about 7 pm on Sunday, June 23, after City officials became concerned that the structural integrity of the bridge may have been compromised after huge trees and other debris in the swollen Cedar River slammed into the almost 115-year-old structure.
Last week, City Administrator Steve Diers said the bridge inspection, being coordinated by Calhoun-Burns & Associates, could start as early as Monday (07.08).
The City got their wish when a crew from Anderson UnderBridge began surveying the bridge, on the National Register of Historic Places, on Monday.
Diers adds that the inspection is “still a work in progress. We hope to know more in a couple days.”
Until that inspection is complete, the Brantingham/Highway 18 bridge is 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 at about 1:30 am on June 24th, dissecting the City in two. Fortunately, that closure only lasted about 12 hours.
