Just today I spoke with two engineers, one a new one to the bowstring project, the other who has been with the project since the bridge was standing. We are moving forward with two diverse engineering needs, one a site - survey, and the other the rehabilitation plan for the bowstring.
Look how far we have come in just a year. Want to invite you to our website at www.skunkriverbridge.org for more information.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Happy New Year
Been awhile since I've posted here. Have set up a page on facebook, Workin' Bridges, and have a new website at www.skunkriverbridge.org
It's been a long year and looking forward to a successful resetting of our bowstring in 2011.
It's been a long year and looking forward to a successful resetting of our bowstring in 2011.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Bridge Transport - Phase 2 Begins
I can't believe that it has been two months since the last posting. The bridge, since that time, has been extracted from the water, using heat and force and really big equipment. I learned a lot about choking, and hand signals, and persistance. This was no easy task.The actual extraction took 3 out of 4 weeks. The first week, the guy in the water in the picture, Nels Raynor, owner of BACH Structural and Ornamental Steel, was in the water for hours without a wet suit. The water got colder and the wet suit was purchased. This is part of the eyebar that got twisted under the bridge.
We determined that she did not go down as gracefully as I might have wished. I had envisioned her floating off and gently hitting a tree/bank and settling down as the waters subsided. No, it was more like she fell to her knees and the force of the water kept pushing her backside on by.
No worries, he's seen worse. I admit to being pretty dismayed when he used the words "it's a mangled mess".
Now she has been transported to Michigan, weeks were spent laying her out, and itemizing the parts, how much we have left to support our continued existence on the historic register and access to funding through the State Historic Preservation Office. Still waiting.
Have applied for other public and private domain grants and charitable giving and will continue that process through December. More news tomorrow as we get ready to launch "Working Bridges".
Saturday, October 2, 2010
The Big Bridge Lift
Six months later than planned and underwater, the Skunk River Bridge (McIntyre) started to come out of the water this week. WOW. Sunday saw Bill Bushong with a dozer clearing the trail to the bridge and filling in the holes. Monday saw Bill Bushong filling in the cuts on the road with rock and continuing to clear the area around the bridge extraction. Nels Raynor from BACH Ornamental and Structural Steel, arrived with his welding box and trailering equipment and one worker to find that the SKYTRACK just couldn't make it back to the bridge. It sunk to it's hubs. Then Bill called Charlie Sheets of Sheets Excavating and soon enough Charlie and Luis Mendoza were on hand to haul that SKYTRAK out of there, replacing it with a huge excavator with a hook on the bucket. And that was that. Over those 4 days, Nels was able to pull a lot of stuff out of that river, including IRON. There are a lot of trees with rootballs that got tangled in the safety cable and the lateral bracing rods to create a mangled mess.
But perseverance furthers and although we are not done yet, it was not for lack of trying. Nels and Shane will be back next week to finish the job, hopeful that while it is a bit colder the river will be a bit lower and the rest of the top channel can be pulled out of the water.
More is always being revealed. The craftsman's record on this Bridge in a Box was told by Marlin Ingalls from Univ. Of Iowa. As an archaeologist and Iowa history buff we learned that this creek is 500,000 years old and that the top 8' of ground is just stuff that was silted in. In this already disturbed site the top 4' of silting in from the last years is very soft.
This morning, after playing guard duty for the weekend, a deer darted across the heron's pond, not very deep that pond. It was a great way to start the day.
Go HAWKS!
But perseverance furthers and although we are not done yet, it was not for lack of trying. Nels and Shane will be back next week to finish the job, hopeful that while it is a bit colder the river will be a bit lower and the rest of the top channel can be pulled out of the water.
More is always being revealed. The craftsman's record on this Bridge in a Box was told by Marlin Ingalls from Univ. Of Iowa. As an archaeologist and Iowa history buff we learned that this creek is 500,000 years old and that the top 8' of ground is just stuff that was silted in. In this already disturbed site the top 4' of silting in from the last years is very soft.
This morning, after playing guard duty for the weekend, a deer darted across the heron's pond, not very deep that pond. It was a great way to start the day.
Go HAWKS!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
New Hope
It's always nice when despair and not knowing are replaced by a path forward. That path has been created by the Michigan bridge lovers. I called Vern Mesler on the day that the I found that our bridge had been swept downstream. Even though Vern had told me that they could fix the bridge, even if it was in the water, it was a sobering reality.
Then the guys from BACH Steel came to visit, and within days had made two site visits, and established a quote for removal of the bridge from the river and shipping to Michigan for repair. At one point I had thought that we could do the work in Iowa, but coming up to speed with all of the equipment, the shop and the extraordinary skills of these guys would be nearly impossible. Might be possible for me to help and learn some of these skills so that we Iowans can start to compete in historic bridge preservation.
I am currently in Michigan, checking out BACH Steel references, visiting Vern's Historic Bridge Park and on my way back checking out the Wabash & Erie Canal Park that another group has not only restored a bridge but built canal boats. We can do this. I have been convinced and the vision of a newly restored Skunk River Bridge is etched in my mind. Once one has a vision one can move forward.
Then the guys from BACH Steel came to visit, and within days had made two site visits, and established a quote for removal of the bridge from the river and shipping to Michigan for repair. At one point I had thought that we could do the work in Iowa, but coming up to speed with all of the equipment, the shop and the extraordinary skills of these guys would be nearly impossible. Might be possible for me to help and learn some of these skills so that we Iowans can start to compete in historic bridge preservation.
I am currently in Michigan, checking out BACH Steel references, visiting Vern's Historic Bridge Park and on my way back checking out the Wabash & Erie Canal Park that another group has not only restored a bridge but built canal boats. We can do this. I have been convinced and the vision of a newly restored Skunk River Bridge is etched in my mind. Once one has a vision one can move forward.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
from the Grinnell Herald Register 8/9/2010
Current plans suggest McDowell
bowstring bridge may be restored in place
August 9, 2010 (retyped as there is no on-line paper)
The McDowell Bridge, the iron bowstring in the Millgrove Access Wildlife Area, has withstood nature’s 2010 onslaught thus far, continuing to span the North Skunk River in southwestern Poweshiek County. The county and The North Skunk River Greenbelt Association (NSRGA) are negotiating terms under which NSRGA can move forward with proposed restoration of the bridge, damaged last year by an ice jam. NSRGA is also researching what the bridge needs and who can perform the tasks and has scheduled a fundraiser for Saturday, Aug 28, to generate donations to fund restoration.
Julie Bowers, executive director of NSRGA, says the organization has received opinions from several engineers that the bridge may not need to be lifted from its piers and set on dry ground as originally planned while work to restore it is performed. She names Mark Latsch of Spicer Engineering, Saginaw, Mich., and Justin Clausen of Peterson Contractors, Inc. (PCI) of Reinbeck as offering the opinion that the bridge can be restored in place. Vern Mesler, a steel fabricator and expert in historic metals, also from Michigan, held a workshop in restoration of 19th century metal in late June nd also suggested the bridge could be restored in place.
Bowes says NSRGA’s current thinking is that the restoration work could be performed in late fall or early winter when the river is low and the ground firm. The organization is working with engineers to define a scope of work so workers with the requisite qualifications can be found for the project. She notes that PCI, the company that was going to lift the bridge to dry land for restoration, remains interested in bidding on future projects, depending on the scope of work. She adds that Mesler, an expert in old metals, is devising techniques to use on the McDowell bridge’s urgent needs, which include pack rust and riveting.
“It’s different steel than what we’d use today, “ says Poweshiek County Engineer Lyle Brehm of the challenge of restoring the McDowell Bridge. “The steel would have been made under different quality controls that we have today. Restoring it will be an uphill battle, not impossible but uphill.”
“It exposes the people working on the bridge to more danger when the bridge is left in place,” he observes of the current plan not to lift the bridge to nearby ground. “Otherwise you could set it on the ground and work onit at ground level. It will be harder to brace it if it remains in place. And, if things fall apart on you all of a sudden, it falls farther than if the bridge was on the ground. It’s not impossible to do, but it does create additional complications.”
“Julie should be saluted for having the tenacity to continue on with the project,” Brehm says of Bowers.
The Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors and NSRGA discussed drafts of possible leases granting permission for NSRGA to work on county land at several supervisor meetings in July. Bowers expects to be returning to the supervisors soon with another draft. NSRGA’s board met on Aug. 5 to vote on the latest draft. The board consists of R.V. Bowes, president,; Bill Bushong, vice president; Lamoyne Gaard, county representative; Diane Eakins, secretary; and Gary Gibson, treasurer.
“My job as county attorney is to insure that we have a lease that will protect the county from liability for what happens during the restoration and repair of the bridge,” explains Michael Mahaffey, Poweshiek County attorney and involved in the negotiations with NSRGA. “The county is not a cross-purposes with NSRGA but, as is the case with any lease, the details have to be worked out.
“it is my position that a lease protects the county but also reflects the true natures of what is happening which is that NSRGA is going to be using public ground and have its agents working on public ground during this period of time,” Mahaffey points out. “As the landlord Poweshiek County needs to make sure that the tenant has liability insurance during the period of the tenancy. If they didn’t have liability insurance and somebody was working out there, there could be some liability on the part of Poweshiek County if there was any kind of unfortunate accident.
“The company that will be working on the restoration and its employees wll assume a certain risk in doing this job,” Mahaffey adds. “The company also needs to be able to show us that they’ve got insurance that will cover their actions during the period of repair and restoration. “
“As to the bridge itself we’re going to sell the bridge to NSRGA during the period of time that the work is being done on the bridge,” Mahaffey continues. “When the work is completed, they’re going to sell it back to us,:
Mahaffey makes the distinction that the bridge in law is personal property while the land around and under it is real property, leading to the lease for the land and sale for a dollar of the bridge.
Bowers plans to appear at this week’s Poweshiek County Conservation Board meeting Aug. 10 to ask the board to make a commitment to allocate resources to the bridge once it is restored.
NSRGA has announced a fund raising event known as Bridge Fest 2010 to be held at John and Gary’s Game Time from noon to midnight on Saturday, Aug. 28. Bowers expects number of musicians will play during the event, including David Zollo and the Body Electric from the Iowa City area, Gordy Sumner from Grinnell also known as Crossroads; CPR of Marshalltown, Supposable Thumbs with Chris Sutliff and other Grinnellians; Flannel which features Ryan Bernemann originally from Grinnell and Scott Cochran; and Thankful Dirt composed of Darren and Molly Matthews from Des Moines. Tickets to the event will cost $15, available at Game Time and The Music Shop, and NSRGA also plans to have an art fair, a flea market, a dunk tank, bake sale and heavy metals recycling along with tee-shirts and cookbooks for sale.
bowstring bridge may be restored in place
August 9, 2010 (retyped as there is no on-line paper)
The McDowell Bridge, the iron bowstring in the Millgrove Access Wildlife Area, has withstood nature’s 2010 onslaught thus far, continuing to span the North Skunk River in southwestern Poweshiek County. The county and The North Skunk River Greenbelt Association (NSRGA) are negotiating terms under which NSRGA can move forward with proposed restoration of the bridge, damaged last year by an ice jam. NSRGA is also researching what the bridge needs and who can perform the tasks and has scheduled a fundraiser for Saturday, Aug 28, to generate donations to fund restoration.
Julie Bowers, executive director of NSRGA, says the organization has received opinions from several engineers that the bridge may not need to be lifted from its piers and set on dry ground as originally planned while work to restore it is performed. She names Mark Latsch of Spicer Engineering, Saginaw, Mich., and Justin Clausen of Peterson Contractors, Inc. (PCI) of Reinbeck as offering the opinion that the bridge can be restored in place. Vern Mesler, a steel fabricator and expert in historic metals, also from Michigan, held a workshop in restoration of 19th century metal in late June nd also suggested the bridge could be restored in place.
Bowes says NSRGA’s current thinking is that the restoration work could be performed in late fall or early winter when the river is low and the ground firm. The organization is working with engineers to define a scope of work so workers with the requisite qualifications can be found for the project. She notes that PCI, the company that was going to lift the bridge to dry land for restoration, remains interested in bidding on future projects, depending on the scope of work. She adds that Mesler, an expert in old metals, is devising techniques to use on the McDowell bridge’s urgent needs, which include pack rust and riveting.
“It’s different steel than what we’d use today, “ says Poweshiek County Engineer Lyle Brehm of the challenge of restoring the McDowell Bridge. “The steel would have been made under different quality controls that we have today. Restoring it will be an uphill battle, not impossible but uphill.”
“It exposes the people working on the bridge to more danger when the bridge is left in place,” he observes of the current plan not to lift the bridge to nearby ground. “Otherwise you could set it on the ground and work onit at ground level. It will be harder to brace it if it remains in place. And, if things fall apart on you all of a sudden, it falls farther than if the bridge was on the ground. It’s not impossible to do, but it does create additional complications.”
“Julie should be saluted for having the tenacity to continue on with the project,” Brehm says of Bowers.
The Poweshiek County Board of Supervisors and NSRGA discussed drafts of possible leases granting permission for NSRGA to work on county land at several supervisor meetings in July. Bowers expects to be returning to the supervisors soon with another draft. NSRGA’s board met on Aug. 5 to vote on the latest draft. The board consists of R.V. Bowes, president,; Bill Bushong, vice president; Lamoyne Gaard, county representative; Diane Eakins, secretary; and Gary Gibson, treasurer.
“My job as county attorney is to insure that we have a lease that will protect the county from liability for what happens during the restoration and repair of the bridge,” explains Michael Mahaffey, Poweshiek County attorney and involved in the negotiations with NSRGA. “The county is not a cross-purposes with NSRGA but, as is the case with any lease, the details have to be worked out.
“it is my position that a lease protects the county but also reflects the true natures of what is happening which is that NSRGA is going to be using public ground and have its agents working on public ground during this period of time,” Mahaffey points out. “As the landlord Poweshiek County needs to make sure that the tenant has liability insurance during the period of the tenancy. If they didn’t have liability insurance and somebody was working out there, there could be some liability on the part of Poweshiek County if there was any kind of unfortunate accident.
“The company that will be working on the restoration and its employees wll assume a certain risk in doing this job,” Mahaffey adds. “The company also needs to be able to show us that they’ve got insurance that will cover their actions during the period of repair and restoration. “
“As to the bridge itself we’re going to sell the bridge to NSRGA during the period of time that the work is being done on the bridge,” Mahaffey continues. “When the work is completed, they’re going to sell it back to us,:
Mahaffey makes the distinction that the bridge in law is personal property while the land around and under it is real property, leading to the lease for the land and sale for a dollar of the bridge.
Bowers plans to appear at this week’s Poweshiek County Conservation Board meeting Aug. 10 to ask the board to make a commitment to allocate resources to the bridge once it is restored.
NSRGA has announced a fund raising event known as Bridge Fest 2010 to be held at John and Gary’s Game Time from noon to midnight on Saturday, Aug. 28. Bowers expects number of musicians will play during the event, including David Zollo and the Body Electric from the Iowa City area, Gordy Sumner from Grinnell also known as Crossroads; CPR of Marshalltown, Supposable Thumbs with Chris Sutliff and other Grinnellians; Flannel which features Ryan Bernemann originally from Grinnell and Scott Cochran; and Thankful Dirt composed of Darren and Molly Matthews from Des Moines. Tickets to the event will cost $15, available at Game Time and The Music Shop, and NSRGA also plans to have an art fair, a flea market, a dunk tank, bake sale and heavy metals recycling along with tee-shirts and cookbooks for sale.
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
August
Plans go forth for the Bridge Fest 2010. Plans go forth for the engineers scope of work. Two more documents for a purchase of a bridge and the lease of the land have been created and are in the legal eagles hands and the agenda for tomorrows meeting has been created.
Flooding around the bridge again yesterday as I escorted a rep from Silo's and Smokestacks to the area. We couldn't get down there, and I think I scared her with my fast driving on back roads but we ended up at Wagaman Mill. They had been damaged by a log banging through the iron fence into the door and Garnet was happy I called. The rep suggested making them sister's to river fun raising and I spoke with Garnet again about that this morning.
Progress is furthering.!)
Flooding around the bridge again yesterday as I escorted a rep from Silo's and Smokestacks to the area. We couldn't get down there, and I think I scared her with my fast driving on back roads but we ended up at Wagaman Mill. They had been damaged by a log banging through the iron fence into the door and Garnet was happy I called. The rep suggested making them sister's to river fun raising and I spoke with Garnet again about that this morning.
Progress is furthering.!)
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