First Avenue to close for bridge survey April 18

Staff report

First Avenue will be temporarily closed to traffic on Tuesday, April 18 as the city surveys extent of repairs needed for a future bridge repair project, City Engineer John Fallis announced Friday morning in a press release.

The street will be closed from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the day. Motorists are encouraged to avoid the area if possible and access the Charles City High School and Middle School through Owen Street. Questions can be directed to the Charles City Engineering Department at 641-257-6300.

The Charles City Council approved evaluation of two of the five city-owned bridges before the April 8 collapse of a Charley Western Trail bridge between Clark Street and South Grand. Those evaluations are continuing as the city investigates replacement options for the 100-year-old bridge.

City officials advise everyone to stay away from Charley Western Bridge in case of further collapse. Charley Western Bridge continues to before less stable since its initial partial collapse last Saturday.

The city is considering completely replacing it, but estimates it won’t be able to have construction begin on a new bridge until 2019, Fallis said.

Along with Charley Western there are 29 structurally deficient bridges in Floyd County, according to said Dusten Rolando, Floyd County engineer.