DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - A bridge in downtown Des Moines will close for a year as engineers elevate it to meet updated flood rules.
The historic Red Bridge over the Des Moines River will close this winter and is scheduled to reopen about a year later, KCCI-TV (https://bit.ly/20w2cgb ) reported.
The Army Corps of Engineers updated its flood rules for the river in 2011, and the bridge is now too low, said Pam Cooksey, Des Moines city engineer.
The city will spend $2.5 million to raise the bridge by four and a half feet. Flood control funds already in the city budget will pay for most of the cost.
“If we raise that bridge by 4.5 feet, we gain 6 inches upstream,” Cooksey said. “So that means we don’t have to reconstruct levees and floodwalls between Court Avenue and Center Street Bridge.”
Construction crews will have to remove the walkway and glass panels before raising the bridge. The city plans to raise the structure on concrete pylons.
Jeff Sieleman, who frequently rides his bike on the bridge, said he was shocked to hear that it is closing for a year.
“I think it’s important because it’s great for bikers, hikers, walkers,” Sieleman said. “It’s just really an excellent way to get over the river.”
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Information from: KCCI-TV, https://www.kcci.com
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