Bridge Talk

Keep an eye on this page to track of the progress of the new bridge over Bear Creek.

The concrete arch bridge over Bear Creek in Shellsburg was built in 1915 at a cost of $6,081. It differed from other Iowa concrete bridges built in the early 1900’s because of its ornamentation and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998. It has served the community well for 108 years, but bridge inspections during recent years have identified deterioration. This caused it to become eligible for funds through the state’s bridge program in 2022. An engineering firm identified options for either repair or replacement, but since the bridge is on the historical register (creating many legal requirements for renovation) the option of repairing the historic bridge is more expensive than replacing it. City officials chose the option to build a new bridge which will span the creek at an angle just south of the old bridge. The old bridge will
remain in place and will be used for pedestrian traffic. Peterson Contractors have been awarded the contract for construction and will build the bridge during the summer of 2023. Funding will come from two grants totaling $1,600,000 and another $600,000 in City bonds.
Ground level photos courtesy of Ed Shaeffer, Shellsburg
Overhead photos courtesy of Travis Brown, Pristine Shots, Shellsburg