Mayflies Swarm Savanna-Sabula Bridge, Force Crews to Plow Off Carcasses

You think we have a problem with Mayflies here in Burlington? Well, highway crews had to plow a bridge crossing the Mississippi River up by Sabula because of ankle-deep mayflies that swarmed the span.

The Dubuque Telegraph Herald reports the insects on Saturday night swarmed to the Savannah-Sabula bridge, connecting Iowa and Illinois.

The bugs covered the bridge so thickly, and caused such slick conditions, that crews plowed the bugs off the lanes and then applied sand for traction.

Officials plan to keep bridge lights turned off for the next few weeks in hopes that the insects will be less attracted to the structure.