After surviving collapse, fire and Dillinger escape, Dakota County swing bridge begins new chapter
At 130 years old, one Dakota County bridge has been traversed by horse-drawn carriages, a notorious bank robber and firefighters in the nick of time. But its story isn't finished yet.
The Rock Island Swing Bridge, which juts out about 680 feet over the Mississippi River from Inver Grove Heights, will begin its latest chapter on the evening of Tuesday, June 17, as it's lit up with thousands of LEDs.
'Council members, the Convention and Visitors Bureau, residents … everybody wants to stake claim as to whose idea this was,' Adam Lares, parks and recreation director for Inver Grove Heights, said with a chuckle.
The $553,000 project will culminate in nightly light shows that run every quarter hour from 7 to 10 p.m. through the summer, Lares said.
'It's part of our identity,' he said of the bridge. 'We want to preserve the history. That's the key in all this.'
As for the lights, there are 54 interior light fixtures, each containing 256 LEDs. The historic section of the bridge features 30 exterior flood-light fixtures, each containing 500 LEDs, which amounts to 28,824 LEDs across the bridge.
'Each light, down to about a quarter of an inch, can be programmed,' Lares said. He recalled a recent test run with a patriotic theme where the lights were programmed to mimic a waving flag. During events, the light shows will also feature music, he said.
Mike Reis, front office manager of Twin City Marina, located half a mile northwest of the bridge, said he doesn't anticipate the lights will cause any issues for boaters and he hasn't heard any complaints from customers.
'We're all for the lights to make things more visible,' he said, adding, 'The colors are neat; hopefully they can do Vikings colors someday.'
The cost to run the lights, estimated to be about $4,000 annually, will be covered by the Parks Department's operating budget, Lares said, which is consistent with how electrical costs are managed throughout the park system.
Inver Grove Heights isn't the only Dakota County city with an affinity for flare, er, flair. Earlier this year, Eagan re-lit its historic Sperry Tower after a lightning strike in 2023 left it dark.
'The (bridge) once connected across the river and it was vital infrastructure before I-494 came along,' Lares said. 'It gave you the opportunity to cross the Mississippi River. It was our legacy.'
Completed in 1895 and spanning 1,661 feet, the Rock Island Swing Bridge was the largest of its kind in the country at the time.
First used by horse-drawn wagons and trains, the bridge provided a connection between stockyards in South St. Paul and main rail lines across the river.
The bridge's unusual double-decker design would later allow motor vehicles on the lower deck while trains rumbled across on the upper deck, the Pioneer Press reported.
Rock Island Railroad operated it as a toll bridge until 1938, when the Legislature made it free to cross.
As local legend goes, the bridge served as an escape route for Depression-era bank robber John Dillinger. The notorious outlaw crossed it in a stolen car while high-tailing to Chicago after a shootout with Dakota County authorities in the mid-1930s.
In 1980, the railroad went bankrupt and as a result the bridge closed to rail traffic. Nearly two decades later, the bridge closed to vehicle traffic.
In 2008, a 200-foot segment of the eastern stretch of the bridge collapsed into the riverbank and the remaining section was slated for demolition.
Two days before demolition, former Gov. Tim Pawlenty gave the Dakota County side of the bridge a two-year reprieve when he signed the state's bonding bill, which included a moratorium.
'God bless Governor Pawlenty, different party than me, but we both traveled across that bridge as kids,' said Dakota County Commissioner Joe Atkins, who was a state representative at the time and introduced the moratorium. 'We passed that bill and got a respite to figure out the next steps.'
Shortly after, the National Park Service hosted a bridge tour to gauge public interest in reusing the Inver Grove Heights side as a scenic pier. There were long lines all day to get on it, the Pioneer Press reported.
In 2010, tragedy struck again as the bridge caught fire just three weeks out from being restored to a public pier. Firefighters worked for three hours on the pier and in boats to douse the burning creosote-soaked wooden deck stringers. It was concluded that the fire started from welding sparks.
Despite the setbacks, the bridge reopened in 2011 as a public pier, spanning some 680 feet over the river.
'You've got this fixture in the community, over a century old, and it's found a way to remain relevant and popular with individuals and families for 130 years now,' Atkins said. 'This latest feature probably won't be the last. It seems to spur creativity and interest among residents across all ages and generations.'
Northwest of the bridge sits Heritage Village Park, one of the city's latest development projects.
At the park visitors will find an 11-acre off-leash dog park that was once a polluted rail yard.
The dog park, which opened in 2019, cost just under $900,000, a total that includes a parking lot, lighting, fencing, benches, drinking fountains and storm water treatment.
'It's a very popular dog park. It is just off the charts the number of people that use it,' said Atkins, who was elected mayor of Inver Grove Heights in 1992 and held the position for 10 years.
Next steps for the park include the construction of an inclusive playground, splash pad and expanded parking lot, according to city documents.
Last November, Dakota County leaders celebrated construction of the first phase of the new Veterans Memorial Greenway, a three-part project that eventually will connect Lebanon Hills Regional Park and the Mississippi River Greenway with five miles of trails interspersed with memorials for military veterans and their families.
Miss Juneteenth crowns Minnesota's young Black queens
Here's how the 2025 MN Legislature impacted Ramsey, Washington, Dakota counties
2 federally charged with machine gun possession after violence at Twin Cities graduations
Hastings' Smead Manufacturing sold to TOPS products in Illinois
Metal manufacturer to lay off nearly 150 in Lakeville, Shakopee, Plymouth
The first phase is the central section of the greenway, running for two miles between Alameda Path and Rich Valley Park in Inver Grove Heights.
The Mississippi River Greenway, which runs for 28 miles along the river connecting St. Paul to Hastings, also includes a trailhead at the Rock Island Swing Bridge that opened in 2015.
'In my opinion, the swing bridge rivals the bison for the top spots people want to stop and enjoy along the Mississippi Greenway,' Atkins said, referring to the herd of American Plains bison that graze at Spring Lake Park Reserve northwest of Hastings.
The bison, who were reintroduced to the prairie in 2022, are part of a plan to naturalize the park's landscape by restoring the oak savanna and prairie landscape of the past.
'We are trying to build connectivity back to that river,' Lares said of the lighting project. 'We're trying to make sure that we don't forget our history and pay homage to that bridge and the natural beauty around it.'
When: 7 to 10 p.m. Tuesday, June 17
Where: 4465 E. 66th St., Inver Grove Heights
Details: http://pipr.es/7V8LyxI
Cost: Free
Miss Juneteenth crowns Minnesota's young Black queens
Here's how the 2025 MN Legislature impacted Ramsey, Washington, Dakota counties
2 federally charged with machine gun possession after violence at Twin Cities graduations
Hastings' Smead Manufacturing sold to TOPS products in Illinois
Metal manufacturer to lay off nearly 150 in Lakeville, Shakopee, Plymouth
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Chelley and Cierra Just Made Love Island USA Season 7 Worth Watching
It finally happened, and baby, it was worth the wait. Love Island USA Season 7 just delivered the queer kiss heard 'round the internet, and social media is in absolute shambles. Tonight's episode saw Chelley Bissainthe and Cierra Ortega lock lips in a moment so charged, so iconic, it may have changed the course of this season and your timeline forever. It was electric. It was sexy. It was history. One X user summed it up best: 'It's finally happening guys!!! Chelley and Cierra are kissing #LoveIslandUSA' What followed was a full-blown meltdown of horny, emotional, and euphoric reactions from every corner of the app. Queer Twitter, sapphic TikTok, the girlies in the group chat, everyone came out swinging with joy and disbelief. 'I know Chelley was starving!' 'need them to win it all tbh' 'shes entertained 3 men in this villa and has not kissed A SINGLE ONE OF THEM LIKE THISDFGHDGFHDG #CIRELLY IS REALLLL' 'i actually jumped and screamed oh my god ' 'Oh hell yeah happy pride!' Yes, the crowd is roaring, and for good reason. At 27, Chelley Bissainthe isn't just playing the game. She's rewriting it. The Florida-born day trader came out as bisexual early in the season with the kind of confidence most of us can only dream of. And not just a cute little mention in a passing convo, either. No. Chelley gave us the tea and the receipts. In a spicy game segment, she casually dropped that she once cheated on a partner by kissing her female friend. Later, she elaborated. She was dating two women at the same time and, yes, had sex with both of them in one day. Name a more iconic confessional. I'll wait. But what's even more groundbreaking is how she's allowed her bisexuality to exist out loud without it being objectified or reduced to some male fantasy. Chelley is living proof that queerness on reality TV can be bold, authentic, and complex. She's not here to be your girl-on-girl-for-the-guys moment. She's here to fall in love, cause chaos, and be a damn good representation for queer viewers watching from their couches with their hearts in their throats. Let's not act like Love Island USA is a bastion of LGBTQ+ inclusivity because it's not. The franchise has historically been straight as hell. But now and then, it slips up and does something radical, and Chelley and Cierra's kiss joins the short but sacred canon. Season 5 gave us Johnnie Garcia and Kassy Castillo's vulnerable, beautiful confession and first same-sex kiss. Kyra Green, who came out as bisexual on the show, is now in a happy relationship with a woman offscreen. And now, in Season 7, we've got Chelley. Fearless, fierce, and kissing a girl on national TV like it's nothing. It should be nothing. But in a landscape where producers still cite 'logistical difficulties' as the reason we can't have a fully queer Love Island (I mean, hello, I Kissed A Girl exists and is thriving) Chelley's presence feels like a rebellion. A kiss in defiance of heteronormativity. A bombshell that shook the villa and the algorithm. Is this the start of a sapphic summer storyline? Please, God, let it be. But even if Chelley and Cierra's kiss doesn't bloom into a full-blown queer romance, fans are demanding that producers give our bisexual queen a little more to work with. Drop a bombshell. Send in a femme fatale. Let her flirt with someone who gets it. If Love Island really wants to prove it's evolving, they'll stop dangling queer moments like bait and start crafting full narratives. Chelley's done the work. Now, give her someone who can match that energy. Whether she finds love or just vibes through the rest of the season in true bad bitch fashion, Chelley's already won something bigger. The hearts of every queer girl on the internet. And if the timeline is any indicator, she's not leaving our screens or our hearts anytime soon. The post Chelley and Cierra Just Made Love Island USA Season 7 Worth Watching appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Peacock Just Dropped the Love Island USA Season 7 Cast and It's Giving Sex, Lies, and Sunburn
Grab your SPF, a vibrator, and a therapist on standby because the seventh circle of horny hell has officially opened. That's right, Peacock has finally dropped the absurdly attractive, barely clothed cast of Love Island USA Season 7 and darling, it's giving 'hot people with no business forming sentences.' The cultural reset is back. The sex appeal is criminal. And if this cast doesn't scream 'we skipped brain day at the gym,' I don't know what does. Streaming June 3, the new season descends on Fiji, where ten genetically unfair individuals will fake fall in love for public validation, PR opportunities, and maybe a little trauma bonding on national TV. Let's meet the cast who will be swapping spit, sobbing in slow motion, and giving us at least five memeable meltdowns before the third recoupling. These aren't contestants. These are walking pheromones in designer swimwear. America, prepare to lose your dignity and your will to live. He's a personal trainer which is reality TV code for 'emotionally unavailable with a god complex.' He has 32 abs and not a single healthy attachment style. The golden retriever boyfriend type. Until he doesn't get picked at the fire pit and suddenly turns into a full Greek tragedy. Tropical baddie with hair that deserves its own spin-off. Don't let the soft voice fool you. She will steal your man and then your skincare routine. Face card? Never declines. Attitude? Expensive. Chelley's here for love but she's leaving with either a man or a brand sponsorship. Mysterious. Stunning. Serving 'try me and die' energy. Her villain origin story is already in pre-production. He's six feet of trouble and talks exclusively in vague spiritual affirmations. Just say you ghost women and go. Yes, the last name is confusing. So are his tattoos. But the man is pure Florida chaos and he's definitely kissing someone else's girl by Episode 2. Southern charm with a nuclear attitude. If you cross her, she'll flirt with your man, win the challenge, and make you cry. All before brunch. Football player jawline. Situationship energy. He'll tell you you're 'different from the others' and mean it for about 48 hours. Spicy. Stunning. A certified weapon of seduction. She's not walking into the villa. She's stomping in stilettos over your relationship. God's favorite ex-girlfriend Ariana Madix returns to host with more poise, power, and post-cheating glow than ever. Vanderpump Rules may have birthed her but Love Island USA is where she reigns. She's giving glam. She's giving goddess. She's giving 'Tom who?' Narration duties are still in the messy hands of Iain Stirling, whose savage voiceovers could ruin your life faster than a text from your ex at 2AM. Welcome to Fiji. Also known as the world's sexiest group therapy session. Producers have promised more twists, more betrayal, and more unplanned pregnancy scares than ever before. The villa is bigger. The games are messier. The vibes are chaotically horny. Yes, Love Island: Aftersun is also back every Saturday starting June 7 so you can watch emotionally unstable influencers unpack their trauma in real time. Hosts to be announced soon but they better serve face. You, the emotionally invested public, can vote for who stays, who recouples, and who gets dumped in the most humiliating way possible. All from the safety of your couch and an overpriced cocktail. Download the Love Island USAapp and start playing God. This season Love Island USA is introducing never-before-seen couples challenges, jaw-dropping shake-ups, and 'surprise guests'. Which is usually code for exes. Revenge plotlines. Or something cooked up by a deranged producer in the dark. Every episode is a ticking time bomb. Every 'I really like you' is a prelude to betrayal. Every night ends in tears, temptation, or both. And we'll be watching with popcorn and a prayer. Peacock has turned Love Island into an international hot people empire and we're just the horny little peasants lapping it up. Currently streaming or coming soon Love Island: Beyond the Villa Love Island Games (Seasons 1 and 2) Love Island UK: All Stars Love Island South Africa and Spain Love Island USA Seasons 4 to 6 Season 6 broke every Peacock record and if Season 7 doesn't top it we riot in bikinis. Love Island USA Season 7 premieres Tuesday June 3 exclusively on Peacock with new episodes daily at 6PM PT / 9PM ET during premiere week then Thursdays through Tuesdays because even hot people need Wednesdays off. This isn't love. This is psychological warfare in a thong bikini. And we'll be seated. The post Peacock Just Dropped the Love Island USA Season 7 Cast and It's Giving Sex, Lies, and Sunburn appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
Yahoo
12 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Who Is Andreina Santos? Meet the Bombshell Turning Heads on Love Island USA Season 7
The villa just got hotter and a little tenser. Enter Andreina Santos, the radiant, runway-ready bombshell who just strutted into Love Island USA season 7 like she owns the place. And quite frankly? She might. The 24-year-old model is the latest curveball thrown into the villa following a mess of emotional recouplings, romantic casualties, and enough sideways glances to fill an entire season of The Real Housewives. But unlike some of the filler contestants we've seen crumble under villa pressure, Andreina came armed: with beauty, brains, and the calm confidence of someone who already knows she's the main character, even if she entered late. Andreina isn't just 'the new girl.' She's a global model with a career that has seen her zig-zag across continents, working with brands, killing runways, and building a polished, highly curated social media presence that screams expensive. With shoots that drip in style and finesse, and a face that looks genetically engineered for high fashion, Andreina has been building her brand long before she stepped foot into the Love Island villa. While the other islanders were arguing over who kissed who under what blanket, Andreina was balancing school and snapping professional-grade photos for her modeling portfolio. She's not just some pretty girl looking for airtime, she's been putting in the work. And the villa? It's just another campaign. Her Instagram serves body goals: carefully lit shots, editorial poses, styled shoots, and a vibe that falls somewhere between Vogue runway princess and effortlessly luxe It Girl. She knows her angles, her light, her audience. The girl is giving content and you will deal. Unfortunately for Andreina, she didn't walk into paradise, she walked into hell week. The villa has just been shaken by the breakup of Huda Mustafa and Jeremiah Brown, a relationship that had been teetering on emotional fumes. Now, Huda's single, steaming, and dangerously competitive. And with fellow bombshell TJ Palma arriving alongside Andreina, the island just became a battlefield. It's giving smize and sabotage, and honestly? We're here for it. Both Andreina and Huda have their eyes on TJ, and while Huda may have tenure, Andreina is the shiny new toy. What she lacks in pre-established alliances, she makes up for in mystique. The guys may say they're satisfied in their matches, but we've seen what happens when a bombshell walks in. All that loyalty talk flies out faster than a recoupling text. Coming in right after the season's most emotionally intense recoupling was a bold move and maybe a little sadistic on the producers' part, but Andreina doesn't seem fazed. She's got that 'I just flew in from Milan and I'm not here to beg' energy. Whether she's walking into a conversation or a confrontation, she carries herself with a poised aloofness that makes it clear she's not here to compete, she's the prize. And yes, she's young. But this woman knows who she is. At 24, she's already got a portfolio, a brand, and now, national exposure. What do most of the other islanders have? A couple of matching swimsuits and a ring light. Love Island is a launchpad, and Andreina is strapped in, locked on, and ready for liftoff. Even if she doesn't find her soul-swapping twin flame in the villa, Andreina is about to get the ultimate career boost. Her Instagram already reads like a portfolio. After this show? She'll be fielding partnerships with the same brands these girls are begging to tag for free bikinis. She fits in perfectly with the model-influencer hybrid ecosystem that Love Island USA has cultivated, but make no mistake, she's poised to rise above it. She doesn't need the villa to be famous. She just needed a camera crew to catch up. The post Who Is Andreina Santos? Meet the Bombshell Turning Heads on Love Island USA Season 7 appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More.
