High waters throughout the month of July on the Mississippi River near Sabula, Iowa have had a direct impact on recent construction efforts on the temporary overflow bridge. ‘Read more’ for the official DOT statement and link to more information,
Recent river conditions have caused water levels to rise well above the pier caps of the new bridge. While work has continued, the water has slowed activities and prevented the contractors from completing pier work that is necessary before moving forward with other key construction activities.
Jim Schnoebelen, Iowa Department of Transportation District 6 Engineer noted, “We are starting to see waters recede and are hoping pier work will be able to commence soon. Until last week, we were hopeful that the high water would not delay opening. However, with the slower-than-anticipated speed at which waters are receding, we are faced with the reality that there will likely be delays.”
While an exact date cannot be identified for the opening of the bridge, the Iowa DOT anticipates the schedule to be pushed to a few weeks beyond Labor Day. Schnoebelen added, “Our goal is to provide the most accurate and timely information regarding the project and schedule as possible. We encourage travelers to stay informed about the project by visiting the project website.”
Project information, service interruptions, and construction and mobility updates are available at iowadot.gov/sabulabridge/.
