Lack of detour saved $68,000--but contractor is getting half of that

Before the new Trout Run Trail Bridge was built, City of Decorah officials anticipated that the project would require a detour around the construction site.

But the bridge contractor worked the project so that the detour wasn't required.  That not only saved motorists a lot of inconvenience, it saved the city from having to spend $68,000 on the cost of creating the detour.

But under the terms of the bridge construction contract, the bridge company will get half of that savings.  City of Decorah officials have approved writing a check for $34,025.36 to the contractor as its part of the detour savings.