The people of Inver Grove Heights are the new owners of an old bridge. And if you ask Eric Carlson, the city's parks and recreation director, they are the proud owners of the historic Rock Island Swing Bridge.

It didn't come easy, but on Tuesday, when Carlson took possession of the deed, it represented the last major hurdle the city faced in order to meet a Nov. 13 deadline for a $1.3 million federal transportation grant. That's the biggest chunk of funding to be used for the $2.8 million project.

"Great news," Mayor George Tourville said of securing ownership of the old double-decker bridge, which once served both railway and vehicular traffic.

Last year, the swing bridge, built in 1895, was slated for demolition by Dakota and Washington counties after it began falling apart on the Washington County bank. But the city halted those plans with its proposal to turn the bridge into a 670-foot public recreational pier reaching the middle of the Mississippi River.

Before that could happen, the city needed to meet U.S. Coast Guard demands to remove junk parts from the river. That was the first major hurdle, and a month ago, the state Department of Transportation agreed to remove the parts.

A river attraction

But there was second big hurdle -- a bureaucratic tangle over who owns the bridge, and who could give the deed to the city. The bridge sits on the riverbed, on tax-forfeited land to which the state holds ownership, Carlson and other city officials contended. The state had earlier taken the position that the county needed to transfer ownership of the bridge to the city.

Tuesday, Carlson picked up the deed to the property, which the state Department of Revenue turned over to the city at no cost.

The pier, if it gets final approval from the Inver Grove Heights City Council, will serve as a river attraction for sight-seers along the regional trail system, with possible lower-level areas so people can fish.

"The project wasn't going to happen until we became the owners of it, so it's a significant milestone," Carlson said.

After picking up the deed, he sent a PDF file of the deed to about 10 county, state and federal agencies that have an interest in the bridge.

"With being able to prove ownership of the bridge as of today," he said, all those agencies, from the Minnesota Department of Revenue to the U.S. Corps of Engineers and Coast Guard, are expected to give approval to necessary permits and agreements.

"November 13 is still a key date for everything to fall in place," Tourville said. "The deed has come from the state to the county to us on a 'use' basis, so that if we continue to be able to use it, we will keep it. If we can't, we will give it back."

Grant should be no problem

Should the bridge not be used for a pier, the state will face greater costs to remove the entire structure, he said. Removing junk parts alone so the city can proceed, has been estimated to cost $300,000 to $400,000, Carlson said.

Carlson said the city foresees no problem now in meeting the Nov. 13 deadline to get the $1.3 million federal transportation grant, and also a $100,000 grant from the Minnesota Historical Society.

On Nov. 23, the city council is to review the plans and specifications and authorize the city to take bids for the demolition and construction project.

Also Tuesday, the city received news from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources that a study found the project will not endanger any species in the water or around the bridge, Tourville said.

Joy Powell • 952-882-9017