Replacement of a 298-foot bridge over the North Skunk River located on Hwy. F62 just east of Lynnville will soon be underway. Construction of the bridge and detours in place will significantly impact the travel of area residents and passersby, but Jasper County officials deem the $2.2 million bridge replacement project necessary due to safety and compliance issues.
The bridge dates back to 1935 when it was first constructed by the State of Iowa. In 1990, the bridge deck was replaced and widened. Jasper County assumed responsibility of the bridge when the road was transferred to the County in the early 2000s.
“The County is replacing this bridge because of observed condition issues with the deck and underlying structure, condition issues that increase the risk of reduced load rating of the bridge and in turn, restricted use of the bridge,” said Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch. “This is a vital east-west transportation route between Jasper and Poweshiek Counties, carrying 1,120 vehicles per day on average. It is critical the County replace this bridge to avoid any future restrictions. Moreover, the existing bridge is not wide enough to meet current standards – roadway width across the bridge today is 26 feet, roadway width across the bridge after replacement will be 30 feet.” In addition to the width of the bridge increasing, it will also span 16 more feet and measure 314 feet in length when complete.
A contract was awarded to Peterson Contractors, Inc. (PCI) on Feb. 4 for the replacement of the bridge. Once the contract is signed and executed, PCI has until Apr. 1 to begin construction with 140 working days to complete the work. “The late start date and number of working days are set in conjunction with the Iowa DOT. This combination means completion of the new bridge by November, weather permitting. Moreover, the late start date and number of working days was selected based upon the project size and complexity and what would result in a reasonable project cost for the County,” said Frietsch.
The official detour route will utilize both state routes and Mahaska County highways. Jasper County Supervisor Brandon Talsma notes the County is aware gravel roads are often used rather than the official detour routes, and he said the County will work with Poweshiek County officials to conduct additional maintenance on gravel roads likely used such as rock, dust control, and blading.
“We know this is going to be an inconvenience and a disruption to citizens, farmers, and businesses,” said Talsma. “This is a vital project that Jasper County needs to complete to ensure this route and farm-to-market road remain open and useable.”
In addition to navigating the logistics of the lengthy bridge replacement project near Lynnville, Jasper County Secondary Roads Department is gearing up for gravel road maintenance.
The public is encouraged to attend informational sessions where County officials present their 2025 approach to gravel road maintenance. A public meeting is set for Tuesday, Mar. 18, at 6:30 p.m. at Lynnville City Hall. Additional meetings will be held in Prairie City (Mar. 11), Baxter (Mar. 20), and Kellogg (Mar. 25).
