Millions of Mayflies Cause Illinois-Iowa Bridge to Temporarily Close [Video]

If you have ever ventured west to Savanna, IL, you have probably crossed the Sabula-Savanna bridge into Iowa. I've done it many times on my Harley. It's a good thing I wasn't there last weekend.

WQAD-TV reports that emergency crews were forced to close the bridge that connects Savanna, Illinois, with Sabula, Iowa, over the weekend due to millions of mayflies obstructing traffic.

Teena Franzen witnessed it all while traveling with son in a Sabula police car. She told the TV station:

I’ve lived in Sabula since ’75, I’ve never seen that many before, ever

Also, it was reported that two motorcycles lost traction trying to travel across the bridge through the piles of mayflies. No injuries were reported.

Sabula Police Officer Stephen Thayer said:

We had Iowa DOT came in with a snow plow and actually plow them off and then sand it because it was still pretty slippery. And then Illinois plowed their side

Over the next couple of weeks, the Iowa Department of Transportation will keep lights on the bridge turned off over the next few weeks to keep the bugs off the bridge.

More in this report from local TV Station WQAD