The number of closed bridges in Winneshiek County is about to set a record

There will soon be 12 bridges in Winneshiek County that are closed to traffic.  Winneshiek County Engineer Lee Bjerke says that's the highest total he's seen in 20 plus years of working for the county.

Just this spring five more bridges have been added to the list of bridges that must be replaced.  The cost of replacing just those five bridges is more than $1.1 million.

There are a number of factors to consider when seeking to replace local bridges.  Federal funding is available--but it comes with more hoops to jump through than does state funding or local road funds.

There are also practical matters to consider.  Two of the bridges are on County Highway A-14, close to one another.  On Monday county officials decided to have construction of the new bridges occur sequentially, so people living near the two bridges would always have a way to get to their properties.

County supervisors will meet again Tuesday with Bjerke in a work session aimed at coming up with a new list of priorities for bridge replacements in Winneshiek County.