Stay off Park Road Bridge arches, Iowa City police warn

Iowa City's new Park Road Bridge comes with a warning from police: Stay off the arches.

A video featuring a person skateboarding on the bridge's arches was circulating on social media Monday, along with other various social media posts, police said, prompting the Iowa City Police Deparment to issue the warning in addition to placing 'no trespassing” signs on the bridge.

'Anyone who falls from the arches will sustain life-threatening injuries at the very least,” Police Chief Jody Matherly said in a news release. 'We are concerned for the safety of our residents and visitors. Stay off the arches.”

People caught climbing on the arches will face a simple misdemeanor charge for trespassing, the release said.

The city is working with its contractor to restrict access to the arches, the release said, and police officers are also increasing patrols in the area.

The new Park Road Bridge opened to pedestrians and vehicles on Sept. 1. Construction is still ongoing to raise Dubuque Street as part of the Gateway Project.

The YouTube video of the skateboarder on the bridge had been removed from the video site late Monday afternoon.