Rehab v. Replace: Charles City Main Street Bridge Fate Still Up In the Air

Flooding in June 2024 forced a two-week shutdown of the  Main Street Bridge in Charles City amid concerns over its structural integrity after huge trees and debris in the swollen Cedar River slammed into the 115-year-old structure. 

After an inspection, the bridge re-opened with a 28-ton weight limit, which remains in effect. There have been two inspections since, including a scuba team looking at the underwater foundation and another assessing the bridge’s facade.

During a City Council planning session Wednesday (10.15) night, Lowell Miller, a structural engineer with Calhoun Burns & Associates, presented a final draft report on rehabbing versus replacing the bridge.

Charles City Chamber of Commerce Director Mark Wicks asked several questions from the Charles City Historic Preservation Commission.

Wicks also noted that, “Once we lose history, we never get it back.”

New or rehab, Councilman Patrick Lumley said it’s time to make a move.

Councilman DeLaine Freeseman agreed, but wanted all the input necessary to make a decision.

Miller cautioned that more questions come with a bridge rehab project.

No action could be taken in the planning session, but the consensus of the Council was to make a decision on rehabbing or replacing the Main Street Bridge in the next six months.