The Cedar River normally flows 15-20 feet below the bridge, but in June of 2008, heavy rains produced what meteorologists called the "500-year flood."
June 11, 2008 - The river was out of its banks and began to threaten the cabins, but remained several feet from the road. Expected to crest at 22 feet, the river would have to crest at 25 feet to get to the road. Unfortunately, the river crested at over 30 feet, well over forecasts.
Friday, June 13, 2008 at 12:23 pm, the raging river took out the eastern span of the bridge, disconnecting it from the middle span. Between 12 and 18 inches of water continued to flow over the two remaining spans, as the eastern span was carried away and finally sank just 100 yards away.
June 2008 - September 2012 -- The SBA worked tirelessly with the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Iowa Office of Homeland Security, the State Historical Society of Iowa, and county and structural engineers to find funding sources to rebuild this piece of history for the community.
The County voted 3-2 in favor of restoring the bridge to its historic stature. VJ Engineering developed the design and specifications for the bridge, replicating the style of the original span as closely as possible, using modern technology. Iowa Bridge and Culvert was awarded the contract for the rebuild at a bid of nearly $1.6 million. Equipment was moved onto the job site in January 2012 with a completion date of October 2012.
At a ribbon cutting in October 2012, hundreds of people celebrated the reopening of the Sutliff Bridge! It's since returned to a park-like setting as a pedestrian bridge with picnic tables for all ages to enjoy the view.
June 11, 2008 - The river was out of its banks and began to threaten the cabins, but remained several feet from the road. Expected to crest at 22 feet, the river would have to crest at 25 feet to get to the road. Unfortunately, the river crested at over 30 feet, well over forecasts.
Friday, June 13, 2008 at 12:23 pm, the raging river took out the eastern span of the bridge, disconnecting it from the middle span. Between 12 and 18 inches of water continued to flow over the two remaining spans, as the eastern span was carried away and finally sank just 100 yards away.
June 2008 - September 2012 -- The SBA worked tirelessly with the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), the Iowa Office of Homeland Security, the State Historical Society of Iowa, and county and structural engineers to find funding sources to rebuild this piece of history for the community.
The County voted 3-2 in favor of restoring the bridge to its historic stature. VJ Engineering developed the design and specifications for the bridge, replicating the style of the original span as closely as possible, using modern technology. Iowa Bridge and Culvert was awarded the contract for the rebuild at a bid of nearly $1.6 million. Equipment was moved onto the job site in January 2012 with a completion date of October 2012.
At a ribbon cutting in October 2012, hundreds of people celebrated the reopening of the Sutliff Bridge! It's since returned to a park-like setting as a pedestrian bridge with picnic tables for all ages to enjoy the view.
