Could Ice Cave Road be permanently closed to through traffic?

Ice Cave Road could become a pedestrian trail under a concept being studied by city and county officials.

Three representatives of the City of Decorah met with five county supervisors Monday morning to discuss the future of the street.  The Iowa DNR earlier this year rejected a proposal to remove some of the fallen cliff below Ice Cave Road, build a new base, and recreate the cliff, saying it would not allow filling in part of the Upper Iowa River riverbed below the road.

Monday morning County Engineer Lee Bjerke told city and county officials a consultant had proposed a $200,000 option for fixing the road, but could only guarantee that "it might work."  County supervisor John Beard concluded, "The challenges of trying to fix that road are something we can't afford."

City officials, however, said they would be interested in annexing county-owned property into the city and turning Ice Cave Road into a recreational trail.  Such a concept would maintain access to Dunning Springs and Ice Cave, but would prevent through traffic.  Such an approach would be similar to Dug Road,which used to be a street 30 years ago, but was closed to traffic and turned into a bike trail and walking trail.

The concept will be discussed by city officials at upcoming city council meetings.