Winneshiek County Engineer's Office announces bridge closing

Winneshiek County is announcing a bridge closing.

Bridge #4 on Moneek Road just west of the intersection of 127th Ave. in Bloomfield Township has been closed and signs and barricades have been placed to warn motorists of the closure. 

The Winneshiek County Engineer's Office says the closure "is due to advanced decay of the east abutment."  The decay was found during the bridges scheduled 24 month inspection required by the Federal Highway Administration. 

The structure will remain closed until a replacement structure can be put in.  As of right now, the time table for when the bridge shall reopen to traffic is unknown.  The bridge was not in the county's 5 year plan for replacement.  

It is the fourth bridge in Winneshiek County to be closed to traffic, with the others being Bridge # 261 on Ranch Road, Bridge #109 on West Ravine Road and Bridge #281 on Happy Hallow Road.  Bridge # 109 will be let in May and Bridge # 261 was let in April for replacement this summer.  All current closures are due to severe structural deficiencies.