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Washington Evening Journal
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Washington, IA 52353
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Wellman bridge to be rebuilt
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
WELLMAN — A bridge at the southern edge of Wellman’s city limits will close Jan. 13, 2025 when contractors begin work on a 4-5 month replacement project, although unfavorable weather could prolong the schedule.
The work will remove and replace the structure according to a press release from the Washington County Engineer’s Office which said the new bridge, once finished, won’t have weight limit restrictions like the current one.
“We just ask for peoples’ patience,” said Washington County Engineer Jacob Thorius. “The contractor will get it built as soon as possible, it’ll be a good project as soon as it’s all said and done.”
The new bridge will be a 110-foot-long concrete slab bridge, crossing Smith Creek to form one of a handful of roads into Wellman. The current structure was built in 1928 according to county officials, and widened by the Iowa DOT in 1964 when old Highway 81 (also known as Wellman Road) was paved, according to the press release.
With the stretch of Ninth Avenue closed for the process, an official posted detour will take drivers from Ginkgo Avenue (W38) taking 170th Street (G26) to Highway 1, north to Highway 22 then back west to the city according to the press release.
It’s a roughly 17-mile route to circumvent the roughly hundred-foot bridge. Thorius said cars might end up taking unmarked detours on gravel roads in the area, but encouraged commuters to follow the detour signs.
“That is not the official detour,” he said. “There are alternative routes around that we’ve got other plans to help address that, knowing local traffic will find their way around. But the bridge is on a paved road, so the detour needs to be on a paved route.”
The press release said the county engineer’s office would provide “construction administration services” for the project, while the work itself is performed by contractors from Iowa Bridge & Culvert LC, hired by the city of Wellman.
With an estimated construction cost of $904,986, city officials don’t expect to spend local taxpayer dollars on the work. The press release said Wellman had received federal Surface Transportation Block Grants funds covering 80% of the project, and a State Highway Bridge Fund for the remaining 20%.
Comments: Kalen.McCain@southeastiowaunion.com
