The mid-term elections of 2010 can best be compared to a glass that is half full or half empty. It depends on which political party one voted for, or in the case of this author, if one decided to sit it out because of the lack of selection in the candidates that could make a difference to America from his point of view. In either case, many people are happy that the Republicans have taken control of Washington, angering many who voted for the Democrats. But that is a different story to be written at another time.
For the citizens of Boone County, Iowa, there is one major issue where they have already spoken and that is with regard to the Wagon Wheel Bridge, located just north of the Kate Shelley Viaducts west of Boone. As mentioned in the last article on this bridge, Boone County officials presented a referendum that would use a $6 million bond at the expense of tax payers to replace the four-span through truss bridge with a concrete bridge built 60 feet to the north of the structure. That referendum was shot down unanimously on Tuesday by a vote of 7,045 “No†votes (70.34 percent) to 2,971 “Yes†votes (29.66 percent). Some of the factors leading to the “no” vote included the people’s association with the bridge and the request to convert the bridge into a pedestrian bridge, to many who cannot afford to have their taxes raised just to replace a bridge where traffic is used rarely in that area.The unanimous “no” vote means that the 1909 Iowa Bridge Company structure, which is one of the most beloved bridges in the region will remain standing even though some structural issues, including that of the approach span that was misaligned by the flooding in 2008 and parts of one of the truss spans that was hit by a falling tree last year. Whether or not the bridge will be converted to a recreational bridge where cyclists, fishermen, and pedestrians can use it depends on the funding available to fix the bridge and the public interest in such a venture. Although the latter seems to favor the approach, the former seems to be the main issue at present, especially in light of the current economic situation. But one constant variant is certain: although the bridge has been spared by the majority, letting it sit as is with no maintenance is not an option to many anymore.
More on the Wagon Wheel Bridge will come as the events about the structure’s future unfolds.
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