Inside Iowa State

July 6, 2006

UP bridge over Stange Road to get new look

by Anne Krapfl

A long-sought change is coming to the north entrance to campus. Starting July 10, an estimated six-week project gets under way to paint and pigeon-proof the Union Pacific railroad bridge over Stange Road. The work will require that Stange Road be reduced to one lane of traffic in each direction. The project will be completed by Aug. 18.

Lindner Painting of Lincoln, Neb., will do the work, which includes sandblasting the bridge down to bare metal, applying a layer of primer and painting the bridge a solid color, light gray. The pigeon-control component of the project involves installing metal screening to the underside of the bridge and adding spikes to the concrete abutments on either side, to prevent the birds from roosting -- and leaving a mess.

Because the existing paint on the bridge contains lead, the bridge will be encased in tarps during the sandblasting to contain the old paint as it is removed, said Randy Larabee, engineer for Facilities Planning and Management and liaison to the railroad company.

Road, sidewalk closures

On July 10, the northbound lanes of Stange Road, including the sidewalk on the east side of Stange Road where it passes under the railroad bridge, will be closed. Two-way traffic will use the southbound lanes and pedestrians will use the sidewalk on the west side of Stange Road. Halfway through the project, the southbound lanes will be closed and two-way traffic will use the northbound lanes.

The bridge belongs to Union Pacific Railroad. While the company has declined university inquiries over the years to paint the bridge, it did give Iowa State permission this year to clean it up and paint it in order to provide a more attractive entrance to campus. The project will cost an estimated $110,000 and be paid for with a combination of university funds.

A six-week project to paint the UP railroad bridge over Stange Road gets under way Monday.