Inver Grove Heights public pier proposal gets a boost

MnDOT will pay to remove unusable parts of the old railway bridge while permits and federal funding are obtained.

By JOY POWELL, Star Tribune

Last update: September 23, 2009 - 11:47 PM

A push to turn the Rock Island Swing Bridge into a recreational pier on the Mississippi River has picked up steam with the state's pledge to pay for removal of junk parts from the old double-decker.

Department of Transportation officials confirmed Wednesday that the agency will pay to remove from the water two unusable piers and a guardrail that protected barges from hitting the old structure.

That agreement cleared an obstacle that the city of Inver Grove Heights faced in trying to meet deadlines to obtain permits and funding for the $2.42 million project.

The plan entails incorporating what remains of the bridge into construction of a 670-foot pier extending from the Dakota County riverbank. The pier would be part of a regional trail system.

"We've made a lot of progress, and we have overcome quite a few hurdles to get to the point where we are today," said Eric Carlson, parks and recreation director for Inver Grove Heights.

Now, Mayor George Tourville said, he hopes the city can take ownership of the bridge and meet a Nov. 13 deadline to get a $1.3 million federal grant. That's the biggest chunk of funding sought for the proposal.

The state agreed to pay $300,000 to $400,000 for demolition of the unusable parts.

"It is really good news because the city could not afford to pay to have the remaining bridge parts removed," Tourville said. "We can now proceed with resolving the ownership question. Hopefully, we can stay on schedule."

A week ago, Tourville brought together 25 representatives of local, county and state agencies. They hashed over issues including who owns the closed bridge and who could give the title to the city of Inver Grove Heights. That issue appears to be resolved.

"The state owned it, and the city is in the process of getting the transfer of ownership from the state," Greg Coughlin, a Metro District state aid engineer, said Wednesday.

Last Friday, a day after the big meeting, Tourville met with Transportation Commissioner Tom Sorel and state Sen. Jim Metzen, DFL-South St. Paul, and obtained the funding commitment from the state.

If the City Council approves the project, and if funding comes through, bids are expected to be let in December for the demolition. Construction of the pier would start next spring.

Tourville said if Inver Grove Heights is prevented from carrying out its plan, the entire structure would have to be removed from the river at a greater cost to Minnesota taxpayers -- up to $1.5 million, Coughlin said.

It would include the removal of the other piers still in the water and also the main structure of the double decker, which had railroad tracks on top and vehicular traffic underneath, he said. One unusable pier is in the center of the river, in the navigation channel, and the U.S. Coast Guard wanted it removed.

The east approach of the bridge was removed last spring after part of it crumbled on the Washington County bank. Dakota and Washington counties then began removing other parts, using state disaster aid.

Joy Powell • 952-882-9017