County plans to demolish bridge

Old Oxbow bridge deemed unsafe.

ISANTI COUNTY – One of Isanti County's landmarks will come down this fall.
The Oxbow Bridge along County Road 14 is no longer safe and will be removed at a cost of $29,477.52. Work will be done by Landwehr Construction.
A new bridge was constructed alongside the old in 1975. The old steel truss structure bridging the Rum River hasn't been used since.
"It's very dangerous and hazardous," Isanti County Highway Engineer Richard Heilman told the Isanti County Board on Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2008.
The concrete on the bridge deck has since fallen off, and the steel is rusting.
"It's an accident waiting to happen," agreed Isanti County Board Chair George Larson.
It was left standing 35 years ago with the intent of using it for a trail, but there are currently no trails leading up to it on either side. Nor are any planned in the future.
"It would cost a fortune to renovate the thing," said Heilman.
At one time, the bridge was listed on Isanti County's historical register. It was constructed in 1913.
ACTIVE LIVING WORK WILL CONTINUE
The $200,000 Active Living by Design grant Isanti County was awarded three years ago by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has run its course, but work will continue.
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation has given the county another $40,000. Isanti County Active Living is also applying for a $10,000 grant from the Initiative Foundation.
That $50,000 will pay for making sure the work began in 2005 is sustained, according to Bill Carlson, who has served as the project director.
The Active Living group has partnered with the Cambridge Medical Center, Districts 911 and 314, local cities, other government agencies and various community groups. It has sought to create a healthy community by designing bike and walk-friendly neighborhoods, by improving sidewalk and trail connections, and promoting the benefits of daily exercise.
Major projects have included the Cambridge-Isanti Walk-Bike Trail, Safe Routes to School, and the Rum River Bicycle Classic.
With the additional funds, the group will continue to push cities to modify their ordinances, and work with medical centers and public health departments. This will go outside Isanti County and include neighboring areas such as Chisago, Mille Lacs and Kanabec counties, said Carlson.
BIKE-WALK TRAIL
RLK Consulting will oversee the contruction of the new trail that will link Cambridge and Isanti.
The cost of designing the plans will be $70,000. Phase two, that of on-site inspections during the construction, hasn't yet been approved by the county board but is expected to run slightly under $93,000.
Construction on the long-awaited trail will begin in June 2009.

In Brief
Isanti County will hold its truth-in-taxation hearing on Dec. 4, 2008 at 7 p.m.
The gambling permit for Cambridge-Isanti Hockey at Jumping Jacks was renewed.
Spencer Brook and Stanford Townships will both receive $500 from the county to help pay for their respective township clean-up days. Money comes from the state SCORE grant.
Resignations: Carl Noelting as the Isanti County Snowmobile Trails Coordinator
Hires: Vernon Anderson, Kelly Strock and Addie Dahlquist as part-time jailers; and Angelina Nelson and Monica Oldenberg as part-time assistant food managers