Cost of Cedar Rapids’ LightLine pedestrian bridge exceeds estimates by $3.6M

CEDAR RAPIDS — The Alliant Energy LightLine Bridge — an eye-catching part of a larger project to promote pedestrian and bicycle traffic in Cedar Rapids — is going to cost about 30 percent more than planners originally thought.

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.

Despite the higher cost, city staff recommended accepting the low bid, and the Cedar Rapids City Council unanimously approved, awarding the contract to General Constructors, Inc. of the Quad Cities, in Bettendorf, at $14,929,902.80.

The other three bids were much higher. Kraemer North America, LLC, of Plain, Wis., bid $16,365,005.19; United Contractors, Inc., Johnston, bid $17,511,239.29; and Michels Corporation, of Milwaukee, was at $22,913,942.45.

Brenna Fall, the city’s public works director, said if the city sought new bids, "The cost is only going to get higher."

Council member Marty Hoeger agreed.

“To delay this project is going to mean that we are either not going to have it or we are going to get less for the same amount of money,” he said.

Council member Ann Poe said the bridge will mean a lot to Cedar Rapids — that it will draw tourists to the area.

"I'm thrilled with this project," Poe said.

Fall said about half the money for the bridge is coming from private sources. To make up the additional $3.6 million, the city finance department will explore using tax incremental financing (TIF), and reallocating money from other projects.

The picturesque pedestrian/bicycle bridge will replace a washed out railroad bridge destroyed in the 2008 flood, and connect the NewBo and Czech Village districts, as well as both sides of the city. The bridge will be part of Cedar Rapids’ segment of the American Discovery Trail and the Great American Rail-Trail.

The Alliant Energy LightLine Bridge will have room for travel and seating. It will feature a tower with two lighting systems: an LED-lighted internal system, which at night will appear to twinkle and will have multiple color options, and external lighting that will flow from the base of the bridge and illuminate the cables and the tower.

The bridge is part of the larger Connect CR project, which will include enhancements to recreation around Cedar Lake, including a trail, fishing piers, jetties, a playground, shelter and restrooms.

Work on the Cedar Lake trail enhancements is scheduled to begin by summer 2025, and other amenities will come in the fall next year.