DES MOINES, Iowa — The Walnut Street bridge connecting downtown Des Moines to the East Village neighborhood will be shut down as it undergoes demolition, starting Monday.
City officials said it will be less expensive to demolish the 113-year-old bridge and build a new one than it would be to repair the current structure. The bridge was built in 1911 and has been determined to be structurally deficient.
The city said it is not unsafe, but the concrete of the bridge deck, sidewalks and bridge arches have deteriorated to poor condition.
Along with the new bridge, the project will also replace the east Des Moines River wall with a new railing between E. Walnut Street and E. Court Avenue.
The demolition began with crews using excavators and breakers to break the bridge deck and sidewalks, which fell on top of the bridge arches.
Then, crews will use excavators to remove the concrete and reinforcing steel from the tops of the arches. No explosives will be used in the demolition.
The project cost is $19.1 million and construction is estimated to last through the fall of 2026.
Any vehicles that were still on the bridge when construction began were towed.