(Spirit Lake)– A very important piece of lakes area history that few people even know still exists could wind up in a scrap heap if no one comes forward to restore it.
It’s the old swing bridge that used to be in place on the Highway 71 causeway between East and West Lakes Okoboji back in the days of the pioneers–in the late 1800’s or so.
The swing bridge was eventually replaced and is now located where a county road crosses the Little Sioux River in the extreme southern part o fthe county. The road is now off limits at the crossing due to the poor condition of the bridge (see photo). As a matter of fact, County Engineer Dan Eckert says it has even been washed downstream a bit and is now actually in the middle of the river…Click here to hear mp3 file
Complicating matters, Eckert says, is the fact the historic bridge is on the State Historic Preservation List…Click here to hear mp3 file
Eckert told the supervisors getting the bridge out of the river will likely come with a hefty price tag, as special equipment will be needed. The supervisors directed Eckert to do some additional research on that.
