A bridge over an ice-jammed Beaver Creek in Johnston has collapsed.
The Trestle Trail Bridge, located north of Interstate 80 near Merle Hay Road, appeared to have collapsed near its center sometime early Wednesday afternoon.
Rich Leopold—director of the Polk County Conservation Board, which owns the bridge —said the timeline for repairs depends on the weather and whether the work can be done by in-housecrews.
"With these ice flows, you expect some damage, but it just so happens it was the Trestle to Trestle's turn," Leopold said Wednesday night. "We are confident we will have it up by the major summer season. I know this is a very popular trail, so we're gonna get on this as quickly as possible."
The city closed the trail leading to the bridge before the collapse, as well as theBeaver Creek Natural Resource Area, the Foxboro Trail area near Lew Clarkson Park and the Augustine Trail.
The route is part of 51 miles of trail managed by the Polk County Conservation Board.
{photo cred: Eric Williamson via Facebook and City of Johnston - Twitter}
[BIKEIOWA note: this is a major connector for the Sycamore River Mountain Bike Trail and for commuters between Johnston and DesMoines]
A map of updated trail closures and flooding for Des Moines can be found
here.