Historic bridge on Chimney Rock Road will be saved

(Photo courtesy of www.historicbridges.,com)

Winneshiek County supervisors are recommending that the Chimney Rock Road Bridge be repaired, not demolished to make way for a new bridge.

The bridge has been closed ever since flooding late last summer.  County Engineer Lee Bjerke estimates it would cost at least $780,000 to remove the bridge and build a new one, while repairs to the bridge could be completed for around $380,000.

But supervisors on Monday found additional reasons to favor repairing the bridge.  85 percent of the cost of repairing the bridge would be paid by FEMA funds, meaning Winneshiek county's cost would be around just $57,000.  County supervisor Dean Thompson also noted that the bridge might provide "the best shot" at preserving an historic bridge in Winneshiek County.  Thompson said there are "good arguments to repair"--and other supervisors agreed, so the bridge will not be torn down.