What is going on with Ice Cave Road?

County officials are hoping to learn more soon about what repairs are needed in order to reopen Ice Cave Road.

The street was closed in mid-September because the roadbed continues to sink and county officials want to know why  the roadbed is moving.  

Possible reasons for the problem include: erosion of the Upper Iowa River stream bank below the road; big pillars of stone under the road have begun to slide on the underlying shale rock; or erosion has caused a fissure that rock and other material is falling into.

An engineering consultant has been on the site this week to take multiple drilling samples.  Depending upon what is discovered, the solution could be anything from temporary repairs to permanently closing down the road.