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[index]

Sharing this news article here, the Savanna-Sabula bridge will soon be no more.
 
It's quite bittersweet for some residents of Savanna and Sabula, as they grew up around the bridge. It is a good thing to have a new bridge, but I could also agree with the locals, it's bittersweet. It's an interesting, intricate, beautiful, and unique bridge that's about to go soon.


Article here: http://www.kwqc.com/content/news/Community-says-goodbye-to-historic-Savanna-Sabula-bridge-452191803.html

[Rick Powell]

Nice story, and it's good that they had a ceremony while the old bridge is still standing. When we removed the IL 351 lift bridge at La Salle, there was an event on the last day open in August 2001  where members of the Marincic and VanDewyngaerde families walked across the old bridge, making them the last to cross the bridge before its closing. Members of the two families were the first to cross the bridge when it opened in 1929.

[sparker]

Sharing this news article here, the Savanna-Sabula bridge will soon be no more.
 
It's quite bittersweet for some residents of Savanna and Sabula, as they grew up around the bridge. It is a good thing to have a new bridge, but I could also agree with the locals, it's bittersweet. It's an interesting, intricate, beautiful, and unique bridge that's in its death throes.

Article here: http://www.kwqc.com/content/news/Community-says-goodbye-to-historic-Savanna-Sabula-bridge-452191803.html

The old US 52 bridge -- or, more accurately, series of bridges over Mississippi River channels -- was one of the more picturesque bridges in that neck of the woods.  I "found" it in the mid-80's while taking photos of the older Miss River RR bridges (the old Milwaukee bridge paralleled the highway facility).  I've always found the upper Mississippi valley to be one of the most beautiful/photogenic areas of the Midwest.  The RR bridge is still being used; it's now part of the CP system.  The only question I'd have is whether there's a timetable for the dismantling of the old bridge.

[index]

Nice story, and it's good that they had a ceremony while the old bridge is still standing. When we removed the IL 351 lift bridge at La Salle, there was an event on the last day open in August 2001  where members of the Marincic and VanDewyngaerde families walked across the old bridge, making them the last to cross the bridge before its closing. Members of the two families were the first to cross the bridge when it opened in 1929.

I always like hearing things about family history and bloodlines in connection with local history and places, it tells you the area has a strong sense of community. Over here in the big metropolitan areas, you never get any that.

On the topic of bridges, while seeing bridges like that go is a must, I never like it. They're usually replaced by a bridge that lacks the character, symbolic quality, interesting-ness, (for lack of a better word that I can think of) and historical value of the old one.

[DandyDan]

When I lived in the Chicago area during high school, my grandpa in SW Minnesota, who was not a fan of the Interstates, had to come up with a route between the two areas. The route he chose went over the Savanna-Sabula Bridge, which turned out to be greatly convenient, as Route 64 went straight through to St. Charles, where I lived.

[iowahighways]

The new bridge opened yesterday. The old bridge is supposed to be demolished next spring. Story from the Clinton (IA) Herald

[hbelkins]

Wonder if they will have mayfly problems on the new bridge?

[froggie]

They will.  Mayfly problems are not inherent on bridge design, but simply because of location in the Mississippi River valley.

[hbelkins]

They will.  Mayfly problems are not inherent on bridge design, but simply because of location in the Mississippi River valley.

That one incident that occurred a few years ago got a lot of media play, but I have not heard of any major infestations/invasions there since then.

Locally, we had a mayfly invasion make regional news this year, even though their appearance in town and at the gas station/convenience store in question (next to the river) is an annual occurrence.

[froggie]

^ That's just it...it *IS* an annual occurrence, but a lot of people don't realize that, especially those who don't live in the river valleys.  Does it get bad?  Not every year, but occasionally.....I recall a few years where MnDOT had to use snowplows to scrape mayflies off the I-494 Wakota Bridge.

[Mdcastle]

Mayflies are the reason for the Low Pressure Sodium vapor lights on several of the Mississippi River bridges. The Great River Bridge used to have them but they were removed because bridge vibrations were causing premature failures of the long lamps.

[paulthemapguy]

"Bittersweet" is exactly the word I would use to describe this.  I'm excited by a nice, new, sturdy bridge for the sake of public safety (and let's face it, aesthetic), but I really enjoyed driving across that old bridge.  I've gone across it probably 3 different times.  It really allows you to take in the vastness of the Mississippi, and muse about how there's an Iowa town that got established on an island.