With its closure a possibility, a few individuals are working to get the portion of Nutmeg Avenue that crosses the Bunker Mill Bridge recognized as a historic roadway. Executive Director Friends of Bunker Mill Bridge Julie Bowers and member Doris Park are preparing for a presentation at September’s Preserving Historic Road Conference in Savannah, Georgia.

Bowers has already sent the organization an abstract outlining the road’s historic significance as a stage coach road that connected Iowa City to Richmond and other cities in the area.

A land owner at the bridge’s southern access has the power to close the section of the road that’s on their property. Park and Bowers hope the designation will help them keep the road open to walkers, bikers and horse drawn carriages.