Reopening Date Unknown After Fire On Trail Bridge

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The fire that damaged a well-known bridge along the Raccoon River Valley Trail (RRVT) this week has raised big questions that remain unanswered: How did it start? How long will it take to repair? What about the Bacoon Ride?

The Latest

Fire crews raced to the bridge, spanning the Raccoon River on the east side of Adel, around 2 a.m. on Monday, according to the Dallas Co. Sheriff’s Office.

Dallas Co. Conservation Dept. director Curt Cable calls the damage “significant,” but declined to comment any further beyond the report from the sheriff’s office.

“We are still gathering details and assessing the extent of the damage,” Cable wrote in an email to DSM Bike Notes.

The sheriff’s office called the bridge “unsafe to use.” Investigators are still trying to determine what caused the fire.

Current Closure

The bridge is on the western end of a construction project that has left a three-mile stretch of the RRVT shut down since January. Dallas Co. Conservation previously told DSM Bike Notes that the closure, which does not include an official detour route, would likely last through late summer or early fall.

The conservation department has not said if or how the fire could impact the reopening date. Cable said he may have more information early next week.

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The Bridge

The old railroad bridge, converted to handle bikes and pedestrians, was closed for several months last year for construction. It reopened in late October, a few months before the current closure began.

“It’s kind of one of the iconic parts of the Raccoon River Valley Trail,” said Pat Steele, chair of the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association.

The bridge has become even more recognizable since 2020, when lights were added to illuminate it.

“When you’re riding on it at night, it’s pretty cool to see the lights reflecting off the river,” Steele said.

He said part of that lighting system melted in the fire. The Adel Partners Chamber of Commerce raised the money to pay for the lights, and Steele, who also serves on the chamber’s trail committee, hopes they can do it again.

“I would say our intent is to be able to replace the lights and not let this put that to an end,” Steele said.

While the fire’s cause is unknown, Steele said vandals have targeted the bridge in the past. He said there are no cameras monitoring the bridge.

Bacoon Ride

The fire has created a logistical nightmare for a popular annual event, but the organizer of the Bacoon Ride on June 14 promises it will go on.

Luke Hoffman, executive director of the Iowa Bicycle Coalition, said he has been scrambling to coordinate with several entities to get permission to use Highway 6 as a detour.

The detour would likely stretch from S. 6^th  St. in Adel to Prospect Ave., where cyclists would then rejoin the RRVT as they head east toward Waukee. This section of trail is part of the current closure, but the county plans to temporarily reopen it strictly for the Bacoon Ride.

Hoffman said he hopes to have a plan finalized very soon and encourages cyclists to continue supporting and registering for the ride.

Future Impact

At 89 miles long, there is always something that needs to be done to maintain and improve the RRVT. Steele said it’s disappointing that some of those projects may be delayed because of the fire.

“It’s just setback and it’s money now that has to go for something else other than what we had wanted to use it for,” he said.

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Steele said one of those projects that may have to wait is the addition of restrooms with running water at every trailhead.

“That’s something we’ll have to take a look at now, whether the bridge is going to be something we may have to focus time and resources to,” Steele said.

One More Thing

If you’re not doing so already, you may want to follow my DSM Bike Notes Facebook page. In between my regular Thursday stories, I’m posting information that is either fairly urgent (like the fire) or may not be big enough for a full story. As this fire story unfolds, I’ll likely be posting updates there, so that’s a good way to stay up to date. Thanks for reading!