The Cedar Rapids-based Sinclair & Co. meatpacking plant was a beacon of industry in Iowa, and now a stone from the original building will be included in the Alliant Energy LightLine bridge project to commemorate its history.
The $14.9 million Alliant Energy LightLine bridge will connect the historic NewBo and Czech Village districts.
Bids for the project were reviewed at the Cedar Rapids City Council’s Tuesday meeting, and the lowest bid was $3.6 million higher than the estimated price of $11.3 million. City staff recommended approval of the low bid, saying the price “will only get higher” by delaying.
The bridge will connect Czech Village and NewBo as part of the $20 million grassroots ConnectCR initiative. Once complete, the bridge will be part of Cedar Rapids’ segment of the American Discovery Trail for pedestrians and bicyclists. It also is part of the Great American Rail-Trail.
It’s time to awaken the “Sleeping Giant”: The demolition of the old CRANDIC Railway Bridge will begin this fall to clear a path for a new bridge as part of the $20 million ConnectCR project.
Also, changes are coming to Iowa City’s urban chicken policy.
A state board on Thursday awarded a combined $1.3 million toward two CEdar Rapids projects: one that will revitalize Cedar Lake through the grassroots ConnectCR initiative and the other that will renovate the African American Museum of Iowa.
Cedar Lake revitalization as part of ConnectCR and the African American Museum of Iowa’s renovation project are among 34 seeking Community Attraction and Tourism grant funding.
A state panel has asked Cedar Rapids to reapply for funds to support the ConnectCR project to revitalize Cedar Lake, but city officials say the decision won’t stop the transformative endeavor from moving forward. Reapplying “fits perfectly” with the project timeline, city officials say.
Award-winning Swiss artist duo NEVERCREW is creating a mural in downtown Cedar Rapids to honor the community effort that fueled the $20 million ConnectCR project to transform Cedar Lake and build a pedestrian-bike bridge spanning the Cedar River
Completion of the bridge as part of the ConnectCR project, which also will revitalize Cedar Lake and bring new amenities, is slated for 2024. Once finished, it will be named the Alliant Energy LightLine.
© 2025 The Gazette | All Rights Reserved.
Daily Newsletters