The McKinley Lake bridge replacement project is underway.
Starting Monday, West Adams Street will be closed from Cottonwood Road to McKinley Street as work begins on the bridge, located north of McKinley Lake. The intersections of West Adams Street with Lake Shore Drive and with Spillway Road will also be closed.
Creston Public Works Director Kevin Kruse said the intersection of West Adams Street and Cottonwood Road will remain open as much as possible, but there will be periods of time in which that intersection will be closed, as well.
“I know Adams Street is a heavily traveled road, but it’s going to be closed there for several months. People will have to be patient,” Kruse said. “(The completion date) depends on how soon winter gets here. If it stays warm enough through the fall, ... it could possibly open up again yet this year. But, we’re really anticipating next spring.”
More than 80 percent of the estimated $1.5 million project will be paid for through state funding. The rest of the costs will be absorbed by the city of Creston.
“We’re going to replace the bridge over at McKinley Lake and then along with that, we’ll put new concrete paving from Cottonwood Street over past the intersection of Lake Shore Drive,” Kruse said. “We’re also going to be adding an 8-foot-wide walking trail along the south side of Adams Street.”
The bridge must be replaced for safety purposes.
“The last few inspections we had were saying it was getting to be a dilapidated bridge,” Kruse said. “We had to put weight restrictions on it the last few years. We were able to get state funding to do it because it was so old and dilapidated.”
But, the project will also improve the look of the bridge and surrounding areas, as well as provide another trail for citizens to walk on.
“The bridge will be beautiful,” said John Kawa, chairman of the Creston Park and Recreation board. “It’ll be paved all the way to Cottonwood, and the turn into the park will be all new pavement. It’ll be cool. It’ll make the park look better; there’s no doubt about that.”