The Adel Lighted Bridge that’s been closed since a 2025 arson will reopen to the public on Saturday in Dallas County, with a bigger celebration of the reopening to come later this month.
Without the bridge in Adel, cyclists on the Raccoon River Valley Trail could not complete a nearly 120-mile paved loop that includes the connected High Trestle Trail. But Dallas County Conservation announced that connection has been restored and will reopen Aug. 8.
“Reopening the bridge represents a major milestone made possible through the work of everyone involved in the restoration effort and the tremendous support of the community,” according to a Dallas County Conservation news release.
A fire on the east end of the bridge that crosses the Raccoon River was reported at about 2 a.m. May 12, 2025. Firefighters from Adel and six nearby towns extinguished the blaze, but not before a wooden span of the bridge known for LED lights operating from sundown to 1 a.m. was severely damaged to the point that county officials determined a 150-foot section needed to be replaced.
Two 19-year-olds and 20-year-old, all from Adel, were arrested in connection with the fire. Two pleaded guilty to charges and received probation and fines. The third was sentenced in February to five years probation.
The Dallas County Board of Supervisors on Dec. 9, 2025, accepted a $598,000 bid from RW Excavating Solutions LC to replace the damaged section with a pre-engineered steel truss span similar to a rehabilitated bridge over Mosquito Creek north of Redfield. Engineering and design services added $96,000 to the cost, bringing the total to about $694,000.
Dallas County Conservation, the Adel Partners Chamber and Raccoon River Valley Trail Association partnered to collect $100,000 in a “Bridge Us Back” fundraising campaign and exceeded the goal by the end of October 2025. More than $114,000 had been raised.
A “Bridge Is Back Celebration” is planned for Aug. 21, which will include a community bike ride from Waukee to Adel at 5 p.m., followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 6 p.m. at the bridge.
More information about the celebration and registration for the bike ride is available through the Raccoon River Valley Trail Association at raccoonrivervalleytrail.org/.
Event updates will be available on social media through the trail association, Adel Chamber & Economic Development and Dallas County Conservation.
Phillip Sitter covers the suburbs for the Des Moines Register. Phillip can be reached via email at PSitter@usatodayco.com. Find out more about him online in the Register’s staff directory.
This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Adel Lighted Bridge reopens Saturday with bigger celebration ahead
Reporting by Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register / Des Moines Register
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Phillip Sitter, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
