ANOTHER “Tales of the Road” site burns! November 5, 2010

Such a shame that the historic Rock Island Swing Bridge burned just weeks before the almost rehabbed span was due to RE-open to the public. This bridge (which is close enough to Highway 61 to qualify for inclusion in the book) has a fun, rich history.

This is a photo of what it used to look like in the years after it was closed to traffic for good. It was a seedy, scruffy, romantic ruin. You could almost see John Dillenger’s getaway car careening over it’s narrow lanes.

I was thrilled to hear Inver Grove Heights and county officials worked hard to save it and rehab it into a public pier. So sad that it caught fire. The bridge was going to be in TOTR #2. I hope there is something left to shoot!