Supervisors hear about Red Bridge efforts

Colfax native Joe Otto brought his cause of saving the Red Bridge to the Jasper County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday.

The bridge, located about 4.5 miles northeast of Monroe, currently spans the South Skunk River but Otto is working to move it to Quarry Springs Park in Colfax.

“The bridge itself is literally about to fall into the river. Since the bridge was closed to traffic, the floods have taken out the approaches,” Otto said. “Give me a chance to try to not let that happen. I may fail but I am going to try my best to find a way to not let that fall into the river, if the county will allow me to try.”

Otto is not currently asking for any support or funds from the county in his efforts to move the bridge. He did say in the future he will probably be back for one if not both of those things.

“I would not expect the county to pay for this entirely, however, if I ever did come ask for a resolution to be passed, there is a dollar amount attached to demolishing the bridge,” Otto said. “I don’t know what it is and whatever that figure is, I would respectfully ask that the money be put toward some sort of protection plan.”

The bridge, which was built in 1892, is the last historic truss bridge in Jasper County. Efforts have been made to save it in recent decades including its addition to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1998. Otto's efforts are the most recent push to bring the old bridge back to life.

“Not only is it the last historic truss bridge in Jasper County, it is the only one that we have on the National Registry of Historic Places,” Otto said. “I believe that it gives it special weight that it should be saved.”

The latest avenue Otto is pursuing is with the Iowa National Guard. He spoke to them about moving the bridge for free through their Innovative Readiness Program.

“(They) said they can do about 95 feet (by helicopter) but they haven’t come out and visited the site and the figure was picking it up and moving it several miles. I am going to ask if they can move a 120 feet span a couple of hundred feet (to the right-of-way,)” Otto said. “I am still planning and my next move is to get the National Guard out there and see what they can possibly do.”

Supervisor Joe Brock said the county has received more than 400 letters of support for the Red Bridge project. He said he toured the bridge last fall with Otto and while he doesn’t know if it is feasible to move the bridge, he would rather see it be used than demolished.

“For us, as a board, what we need is a plan that is in agreement with what the engineer says and a dollar amount. Get something solid together, that I know you are working on, and if it is legitimate and doesn’t leave the county liable for things, I would think then it is possible,” supervisor Doug Cupples said.

Otto said he is also working to form a 501(c)3 organization to formalize the efforts being taken to save the bridge.

“Thank you for your enthusiasm,” supervisor Denny Carpenter said.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com