Deteriorating bridges will affect snow removal in Winneshiek County

It won't be long before snow plows hit the roads in Winneshiek County.

And while you might not want to think about that, county road crews are getting prepared.  A meeting of county highway road crew supervisors was held Monday.

County Engineer Lee Bjerke says snow removal plans will have to take into consideration the weight limits on deteriorating bridges.  Winneshiek County has around 20 bridges that carry three ton load limits—and that makes removing snow a little more complicated.  The county has just a single one-ton truck that can remove snow from those bridges.  Other county highway trucks are too heavy for the bridges.

So part of the preparation for winter snow plowing involves drawing up a route that hits all of the bridges.  In many cases the heavier county highway trucks plow right up to the bridge approaches, but don't dare cross the bridge.  Bjerke says the one-ton truck can reach all of the lighter bridges in one day—but it takes some effort.

Monday's meeting allowed county highway crews to discuss the snow removal routes and what will be needed this winter to keep county roads clear.