It now has a new name as well.

Known for about 55 years as Veterans Bridge, it is now the Albert Habhab Veterans Memorial Bridge.

It is named after a World War II veteran who was the city’s mayor when the span was built.

Habhab, who died Jan. 27 of this year, was a mayor (1960-1974), district court judge (1975-1988) and judge of the Iowa Court of Appeals (1988-1997).

-Submitted image
This plaza is proposed for the east end of Albert Habhab Veterans Memorial Bridge on First Avenue South. Its markers and flags would be a tribute to the nation’s veterans and armed forces.

The new name for the bridge was announced at the community’s Veterans Day observance at St. Edmond Catholic School. Habhab, who was present, received a standing ovation.

The bridge carries First Avenue South over the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.

In 2023, it was the subject of a project that addressed crumbling concrete and other problems.

Renaming the bridge dovetails with a plan from local veterans groups and the city government to make the structure truly worthy of its name. It calls for new signs identifying the bridge, a plaza at its east end, decorative lighting and emblems of the armed services mounted on light poles.

The goal, according to Navy veteran Mike Larson, is to “do something to make the bridge pop and stand out as a veterans bridge.”

Tom Dorsey, adjutant of American Legion Post 130, said fellow veteran Sam Hartman had “bugged” him for the better part of a year about potentially decorating the bridge for veterans. Dorsey said he eventually brought the idea up at an American Legion meeting. The idea was welcomed.

“If we’re going to call it Veterans Bridge we should have something related to veterans,” said Rich Lennon, who is a veteran of the Army and Army Reserve. “With the present state of the world, this will become more important.”

The veterans contacted Mayor Matt Bemrich and City Manager David Fierke. The Fort Dodge Community Foundation, Webster County Department of Veterans Affairs and the Fort Dodge Fine Arts Council also became involved.

The planning process began in April 2023, before the bridge was renamed.

Shive Hattery, of West Des Moines, was hired to do the designs.

The first phase of the project envisions metal signs attached to the light poles along the bridge. Some of those signs would be images of folded American flags — a blue triangle with white stars on it. The others would be emblems of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard and Space Force.

The second phase would include large monument signs at each end of the bridge, identifying it as Albert Habhab Veterans Memorial Bridge.

Enhancements to the railings on either side of the bridge would be the third phase. That could include lighting and large stars fastened to the railings.

Construction of a plaza on the southeast side of the bridge would be the fourth and final phase. The plaza would include flagpoles and some markers.

Cost estimates for all four phases of the project are being calculated. Once those estimates are received, the veterans groups will begin a fundraising effort to pay for the project.