Demolition work is officially underway on the Wabash Bridge, a historic structure spanning the Des Moines River south of Pella. Originally built in the 1880s to carry the Wabash Railroad line between Des Moines and St. Louis, the bridge served rail traffic for decades before being converted to a county road in the late 1940s. For the past 25 years, the bridge has been used as a pedestrian walkway.
In March, the aging bridge partially collapsed, prompting an evaluation by Marion County officials. According to County Engineer Tyler Christian, a feasibility study found that repairs were not financially practical, leading to the decision to demolish the structure.
The demolition is expected to take approximately four to six weeks to complete.
