Clapsaddle-Garber Associates, Inc. (CGA) is pleased to announce they have been selected to receive an Honor Award from the American Council of Engineering Companies of Iowa.
CGA submitted an award application in October 2020 in the “Special Project” category which described their unique work with the City of Story City on repairs to the Historic Swinging Bridge. The Story City Historic Swinging Bridge was built by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s administration in 1936. This charming historical mark within the City of Story City was built as part of the Works Project Administration that year in an effort to add to the aesthetic of the town, as well as provide jobs to an underemployed populace reeling from the effects of the Great Depression. The bridge suffered extensive damage in the spring of 2019 due to heavy rainfall and a late thaw, making it unsafe for public use until the failure within the structure was remedied.
Examining the original bridge design and working with the owner, CGA was able to redesign a new structure that was true to the original yet incorporate improvements to mitigate future damage from natural disasters. Components such as the original stone towers remained intact, while others were enhanced for future preservation and added ambiance, such as special LED lighting along the joists and cables. CGA also played a key role in minimizing costs to the City of Story City with detailed documentation of damages in an engineering report submitted to the insurance company. Construction began in September 2019 and was substantially complete on November 8, 2019, and open to the public with a ribbon-cutting on December 2, 2019.
CGA Project Engineer Mindy Bryngelson, PE states “We were honored to be involved in repairing and preserving such a unique piece of history that is special to the Story City community. The Swinging Bridge project is truly representative of how our engineers look beyond the direct scope of a project in order to incorporate enhancements into their design. I am very proud of the CGA team for going above and beyond for the client and look forward to many generations being able to enjoy the bridge.”
The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) is the voice of America’s engineering industry. Council members – numbering more than 5,000 firms representing more than 500,000 employees throughout the country – are engaged in a wide range of engineering works that propel the nation’s economy, and enhance and safeguard America’s quality of life. These works allow Americans to drink clean water, enjoy a healthy life, take advantage of new technologies, and travel safely and efficiently. The Council’s mission is to contribute to America’s prosperity and welfare by advancing the business interests of member firms. Learn more at https://www.cec-iowa.org.
###
