Design for Dahly Bridge replacement might include improved river access

While the Dahly Bridge that collapsed earlier this month was only rated for a three ton weight limit, it still was an important access point for people wanting to canoe or kayak the Upper Iowa River--perhaps even the top access point on the river.

So as the focus shifts to designing and building a new bridge, planners are looking at possible improvements to the river access.  County Engineer Lee Bjerke says preliminary drawings for a new bridge call for it to be built at a slight angle across the river.  That could give more room for people wanting to park near the bridge in order to go on the river.

County officials say they'd like to meet with neighboring property owners--probably near the site of the collapsed bridge--to get input on the best way to design a replacement bridge to handle the river traffic and to eliminate any problems that have come up previously at the bridge.