Keystone Bridge pedestrian access reopens
Pedestrian access across Elkader’s Keystone Bridge reopened on Sept. 30. It had been shut down since springtime, due to safety concerns regarding a cracked stone.
By Willis Patenaude, Times-Register
In a celebratory email sent out Friday afternoon, Elkader City Administrator Jennifer Cowsert announced, “The pedestrian access across the Keystone Bridge is open!”
The announcement, which was expected based on the revised project timeline, still came as a relief, given the ever-shifting projections associated with recent project setbacks and unforeseen complications. Such was the case with pedestrian access, which was never supposed to be closed, but ended up shut down after safety concerns arose in April over a cracked stone. Even this month, access was delayed due to an unforeseen issue, namely seeking resident approval for construction of the berm included in the completion of the shoring structure.
While access has been fully restored and there are no immediate safety concerns, engineer Nate Miller of Origin Design cautioned it is still an active construction zone and pedestrians should “remain within the designated walkway. Do not linger unnecessarily on the bridge, and remain aware of their surroundings.”
“The contractor may have personnel on site to temporarily hold pedestrians during specific operations. Any disruptions will be kept to an absolute minimum and will be closely coordinated with the city,” Miller added.
The public is also reminded to abide by the ordinance regarding bikes across the bridge walkway because it is a safety issue. According to Cowsert, bikes are to be walked across the bridge, as well as downtown.
“This is a safety issue, especially when they get to the sidewalks downtown. People come out of the doors of the shops or offices and someone bikes by and there are collisions. Collisions have happened and both the pedestrian and the person on the bike are injured,” Cowsert stated. “Anecdotally, we know people riding bikes will go fast down the hill from High Street across the bridge to where it connects with Main Street, not stop at the stop sign and proceed straight across Main Street. This is a huge safety concern. It really shouldn’t be a big deal to just walk their bike on the sidewalks for a couple of blocks.”
As for other aspects of the bridge project, the most important remains the stone repair process, which includes the selective removal of overburden from above the area to be repaired, masonry stabilization efforts surrounding the repair area and the replacement of deteriorated stones.
The replacement stones, according to Miller, have been rough cut and shipped out for finishing. Miller estimates the entire replacement process will be completed by late October or early November, with no anticipated delays.
It should be noted that, during the time when the general bridge repair was at a standstill, efforts in other facets of the project continued. That included masonry restoration throughout the bridge, the installation of arch anchors, void grouting and mortar filling and preparation for the stone Dutchman repairs.
“We understand that the unforeseen structural issues have been a hardship for the city, local businesses and residents. We will continue to work alongside the city leaders to see that this project will ultimately improve the quality of life within the community,” Miller said.
