(Okoboji)– Another reminder that the fishing pier and former railroad trestle bridge at Claire Wilson Park between East and West Lakes Okoboji will be closed beginning this coming Monday, May 5th. Mike Weis, Northwest Iowa Supervisor of the DNR’s Parks, Forests and Preserves says some major renovations will be taking place…
“Basically if anybody’s been by the bridge recently they’ve noticed it’s in disrepair. Obviously years of use, exposure to the elements and floods of last year have kind of made it in need of some desperate upgrades.”
Weis says the project is expected to take about six weeks…
“Of course as with everything you always hope it goes faster than that to minimize the disruption but that’s always weather dependent of course and you never know exactly. You’ve got a plan when you go in but when you get there you often find that it’s not quite what you perceived and it often times takes longer than you expected, so we’re hoping six weeks or less.”
He adds the project won’t affect boat traffic in that area…
“As far as I know most of the work should be done from above. We’re not raising or lowering any sort of height on it, it’s merely just replacing kind of what’s in existence.”
Weis says the parking area at Clare Wilson park will also be closed while the work is going on…
“We’re going to have to close that down for storage of equipment, trailers, possibly a roll-off dumpster to take that used lumber, and some outhouses for our workers.”
Also another reminder that those using the recreational trail in that area will need to use the trail on the west side of Highway 71 through the corridor bridge area.
