decorahnews.com special report: "Sagging bridges, bumpy roads" Part 3

Barricades are up on the approaches to Bridge 407 on Pine Creek Road

Some roads and bridges get in such bad condition that the only option is to replace them.

That's the case with Bridge #407 on Pine Creek Road in Burr Oak Township.  The abutment to the bridge fell and separated from the bridge, leaving a gap of several feet.  The bridge has been closed to all traffic.

Six other bridges in Winneshiek County are also closed.  Winneshiek County can used federal bridge repair dollars, some county bridge fund money and, in certain cases, city bridge funds, but those funds usually pay for one bridge project at a time--not seven.

So the bridges remain closed to traffic, forcing property owners on Pine Creek Road and other county roads with closed bridges to make lengthy detours.

County Engineer Lee Bjerke says increasing the state road use tax would provide much-needed revenues for Winneshiek County.  The last gas tax increase came in 1989--and that was just one cent a gallon.