Burlington, IA – Cascade Bridge connects downtown Burlington with Crapo Park via South Main Street.
The bridge was built in the late 1800's. It is now showing its age.
Burlington stopped letting vehicles travel across Cascade Bridge in 2008. City Manager Doug Worden says the move was needed to keep large buses and semi-trucks off of the bridge.
Pedestrian traffic was prohibited last year.
Members of the Burlington City Council have been approached by residents interested in seeing the pedestrian ban overturned. The panel says it is now open to the idea.
Worden says city staff does not see a problem with re-opening the bridge to walkers and runners. He says people are still using the bridge, illegally, by moving barricades and fences.
Worden says the city engineer will provide his recommendation to the Burlington City Council prior to any formal action.
Meanwhile, Burlington is working to replace Cascade Bridge. The city council has hired a firm to design a new structure.
Worden says that process could take another six months to complete. A new bridge would cost Burlington several million dollars.