Bridges of Madison County in need of repairs

WINTERSET, Iowa — As the community prepares to welcome thousands this month for the Covered Bridge Festival, there are some thinking about how the famous covered bridges need some tender, loving care.

The Madison County Enginer Mike Hackett has done some estimating of what it would cost to repair the Holliwell Bridge. He estimates it will take around $1 million to restore the bridge. There are two other bridges similar in size, which also have an estimated $1 million restoration cost. Two smaller covered bridges would run over $500,000 to repair.

“I see a very unique structure that took a lot of time to construct with tools and materials that we don’t have today so I really appreciate that,” said Hackett. “This angle here, and you can see the siding that needs to be replaced and see again the wave in the structure up there it’s not structurally straight.”

The county does not have a budget to maintain these bridges. The bridges have been a tourism attraction since the movie “Bridges of Madison County” was released.

“And I truly believe that without these covered bridges, there would be far less in terms of attractions, amenities not just for the people who are visiting, but also the people who do live here,” said Tedi Yeager, the Madison County Tourism Director. “We have a rarity in that Winterset courthouse square which is not only one of the most historically intact town squares in the state, but it’s thriving.”

There is also historical interest in preserving these bridges.

“The bridges along with a few isolated barns and homes are really all we have left of the remnants of early Madison County,” said Linda Griffith Smith, Chair of the Madison County Preservation Commission

The Covered Bridge Festival will be held on October 12th and 13th.

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