decorahnews.com profile: Brennan Construction of Lansing has worked on bridge projects for nearly 100 years

The company hired to remove the Dahly Bridge debris from the Upper Iowa River was formed in 1919.  That means the owners of Brennan Construction of Lansing could repeat the words in the TV commercial for an insurance company--"We've seen almost everything."

Company owner Marty Brennan says his crews were already working on other projects when Winneshiek County Engineer Lee Bjerke called with news about the bridge collapse.  Brennan was able to pull away workers from several different crews to go help in Winneshiek County. 

Brennan tells decorahnews.com, "Of course, we get paid," but he also stresses that his company has a long relationship with Winneshiek County.  Brennan's grandfather was one of the founders of the business.

As for whether his crews have removed a bridge from a river before, Brennan says the Dahly Bridge project was "not a designed demolition," but his company has pulled bridges out of the water before.  In two years the company will be celebrating its 100th anniversary and, again in the words of the TV ad, "We know a thing or two because we've seen a thing or two."