Historic bridge may take flight

A century-old truss bridge over the South Skunk River near Ames may be taken on a helicopter ride next year. Story County Conservation Board director Steve Lekwa says the steel-and-wood bridge is about 80 feet long and likely weighs ten tons. Lekwa says the Iowa National Guard may be able to use a Chinook helicopter to pick up the bridge and set it down about 12 miles away as part of the “Heart of Iowa Nature Trail” near Maxwell. Lekwa says the bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Structures. Lekwa says the historic structure, which pre-dates the automobile, is no longer used and has been abandoned for many years, yet it’s still in good shape. He says it’d be nice to preserve the bridge and bring it back to a useful life on the bicycle, hiking and horse trail. The 32-mile Heart of Iowa Nature Trail runs from Slater to Melbourne.