County closes two bridges, plans to embargo more

GRUNDY COUNTY – The condition of Iowa’s bridges recently made headlines when the American Road & Transportation Builders Association released its annual report, which stated that Iowa has the highest overall number of structurally deficient bridges in the nation.
            On a statewide level, bridges are in rough shape; but on a countywide level, things are even worse, claims County Engineer Gary Mauer.
Effective August 2, the county has closed two bridges due to structural deficiencies, and Mauer said that more bridges will be embargoed in the coming weeks. An embargo essentially bars vehicles above a certain weight from crossing the bridge. Many embargoed bridges are older, and weaker, and may eventually be closed due to the lack of funds needed to repair them.
            One of the bridges being closed is No. C-24, located on 140th Street between I Ave and J Ave (or one mile southwest of Buck Grove), which is being closed permanently. Mauer reports that the bridge has been embargoed for three tons for the last 10 to 12 years. He said that in the shape it’s in, he thought the bridge inspector would have recommended a closure a long time ago.
            “We’re surprised it hadn’t been recommended for closure earlier than this,” Mauer said. “It’s to the point where it needed to be closed; the wood’s rotting.”
            The other bridge being closed is bridge No. F-07 located on K Ave between 170th St and 180th St (or 5 miles northwest of Holland). Although the bridge was on the schedule to be repaired next year, Mauer got the okay from the County Board of Supervisors to have the construction moved up to this fall.
For the full story, see the August 11 edition of The Grundy Register!