Winneshiek County roads and bridges took a hit from last week's flooding

The job of repairing Winneshiek County's roads and bridges got a little tougher last week with the flooding that damaged a number of bridges and closed a number of roads.

Winneshiek County Engineer Lee Bjerke says he's worried about the condition of the Bolson Bridge and the Chimney Rock Road Bridge, which both had debris wash against them during the flooding.  If either bridge needs repairs, the projects would delay other bridge repair projects scheduled in the county's five-year road plan.

Bjerke says his department has had to rent equipment four years in a row in order to be able to haul away flood debris.  He's suggesting to county supervisors that they authorize the purchase of a side dump trailer, so county crews don't have to rent equipment.  However, that could cost from $35,000 to $50,000.  Supervisors have agreed to let Bjerke get estimates on the purchase price of such equipment.

Closed Roads in Winneshiek County as of Monday 4:00pm:
307th Avenue at Bridge 306
200th Street 1/2 mile west of 3239 200th Street
143rd Avenue to Coon Creek Rd
200th Street 1/4 mile east of 337th Ave
Wren Valley Rd at the bridge
Haugen Hill Rd Closed between Middle Ossian Rd & Stone Hill Rd
Twin Springs Rd
Cattle Creek Rd at Daleys Bridge
293rd Ave-Sumner Township Section 25
Chimney Rock Road at the Bridge
235th Ave is closed between the Madison Rd and Pole Line Rd