After being closed since September’s Mexican Fiesta, Fort Madison’s Santa Fe Bridge is finally reopening this weekend, and not a moment too soon! The nearly 100-year-old double-decker beauty has been getting some well-deserved TLC. Built in 1927, she’s seen generations cross the Mississippi River, from Model Ts to modern SUVs, and occasionally horses, and she’s still standing strong (just with a few blemishes).
While the closure certainly tested our patience, the community has stayed strong and supportive through it all. Even during the busy July Pageant season in Nauvoo, we found ways to keep visitors coming to Fort Madison. Now, with the bridge reopening, we’re ready to welcome travelers back with open arms and open roads for the holiday season.
The Santa Fe Bridge isn’t just any bridge, it’s one of the busiest of its kind. She opens roughly 2,000 times a year for river traffic, carries thousands of vehicles, and sees 60 to 80 trains per day. With all that action, a little maintenance now and then is a must!
The Fort Madison Tourism Office, along with our friends in Keokuk, Montrose, Nauvoo, Hamilton, and Niota, are ready to once again promote the Lake Cooper Loop, a scenic 50-mile drive around the Mississippi that connects six river communities in two states.
Here’s to the Santa Fe Bridge; our link across the river and through time.
Chi Eastin is the executive director of the Fort Madison Tourism Board and can be reached at tourism@fortmadison.com
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