Work is beginning on replacing the Dahly Bridge

Crews from Brennan Construction of Lansing have begun setting up for a project to build a new Dahly Bridge.  The previous bridge collapsed into the Upper Iowa River when 29-year-old Justin Hippen of Parkersburg drove a 54,700 pounds-over-the-posted-weight-limit trailer across the bridge on the morning of May 5th, 2017.

The Iowa Department of Transportation opened bids on the bridge construction project in March of this year.  Brennan Construction submitted a bid of $1,153,186.40 for the work--the only bid received.  However, the bid was close to the estimated cost.  Brennan also was the contractor for removing the bridge debris from the Upper Iowa River.

Winneshiek County Engineer Lee Bjerke says it will be the federal government, not Winneshiek County, which will be paying for the project, however.  Federal bridge replacement funds will pay the entire cost, with no local funds involved.

Bjerke says the construction of a new bridge is expected to last into the fall.