A small bridge north of Sabula, Iowa is causing some big headaches.
Sabula prides itself on being Iowa’s Island City.
Now, they might be feeling more isolated than ever.
Safety concerns caused Iowa DOT to close the road between the Island City, and it’s closest neighbor Savanna, Illinois.
Crews are replacing the causeway bridge just north of Sabula and inspectors said that caused a sizable issue with a dip in the road.
Now that link will be closed through at least the end of May.
In 2017, the cities of Savanna and Sabula celebrated a new $80 million bridge.
It’s work on another bridge leaving that connection closed to traffic.
Hop’n Shop Owner Kristi Mussmann said, “When we’ve had flooding, it’s been closed for like a month at a time, where people had to drive around, but you can handle a month. This is going to be at least three months. If not four.”
Preparing for the long haul, that’s the best the more than 500 Sabula residents can hope for.
Mussmann said, “It’s quite devastating for a lot of people in town.”
While residents say the concern for safety is proper, it isn’t without its costs.
Hop’n Shop owner Kristi Mussmann expects this extended shutdown to severally slice into business.
Mussmann said, “Probably cut my business in half. I mean, I have a lot of people from Illinois that come over getting gas and numerous other items.”
That means changing her orders.
It’s also added miles to people’s commutes. The drive to and from Savanna is a regular one for work and shopping, crossing to a city so close, now so far away.
Island City Harbor Jesse Lawson said, “You never really know how many people use it on a daily basis until it’s no longer available for use.”
Now, it means driving to Clinton, crossing into Fulton and back north to Savanna.
“My husband works in Savanna, so it’s 34 miles I think over and then back… so that’s 68 miles a day,” Mussmann said.
That means hours on the roads.
It’s also leaving some residents looking for alternatives ways to get their medications and for others who simply can’t make the long trip.
If living on the river has taught residents one quality, it’s how to remain resilient.
One way has Island City Harbor partnering with Sullivan’s Foods starting Monday launching a weekday mobile grocery shopping drop-off service.
It’s to make sure people still have all the necessities without making a long trip.
Lawson said, “To do our part in the community to elevate the pressures of a problem that nobody could of prevented, so we’re just doing what we can.”
According to the Sullivan’s Foods, this is how the service will work:
To make grocery shopping convenient for Sullivan’s Foods Iowa customers, they are offering Monday through Friday delivery to the Island City Harbor in Sabula, IA. The normal delivery fee of $5 will be waived for this drop-off service to those residents in Sabula, Miles, Preston, and surrounding Iowa areas affected by the bridge closing. Iowa residents may order online by 9 am or call in orders by phone between 7 am and 10 am and pick up their order the same day at the Island City Harbor between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm. Payment will be accepted at time of order by credit or debit card. Sullivan’s Foods Mobile Grocery Service is easy online: • Create an account at www.sullivansfoods.net • Add items to your cart, add any special instructions, check-out by 9 am then pick-up your order at the Island City Harbor, Sabula, IA between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm • Shop and checkout by App (coming soon for iOS or Android) • Choice of payment options: credit or debit card Sullivan’s Foods Mobile Grocery Service is easy by phone: • Call the store at 815.273.7739 • Give the items to you want and pay by debit or credit card by 10 am then pick-up your order at the Island City Harbor, Sabula, IA between 2:30 pm and 5:30 pm • Choice of payment options: credit or debit card A service fee is $5 per order but currently waived for Iowa residents using drop-off service in Sabula. Complete instructions and details can be found soon at www.sullivansfoods.com.Residents also said people are offering carpooling services and one local is planning to provide boat ferry rides across the Mississippi once ice clears the river.
They hope the road will be open by Memorial Day weekend, one of the busiest times of the year for business on the island.
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