A bridge over the North Skunk River northeast of Newton has been closed indefinitely after failing a routine annual bridge inspection. According to Nicole Williams, Assistant to the Jasper County Engineer, the bridge on Iowa Street in the northwest part of Kellogg Township was closed at 9 a.m. Wednesday morning at the recommendation of the outside consulting firm that inspected it. Williams says they deemed the bridge unsafe for all traffic and that it will remain closed until further notice. 

The 100 foot long structure was built in the 1930’s. Williams says various ways of funding a replacement bridge have been looked at over the last few years but it’s not feasible because of the expense. Under new standards and hydraulics, the County Engineer’s Assistant says a replacement bridge would need to be close to 250’. She adds a bridge that size would require realigning Iowa Street with the intersection of North 55th Avenue East at the bridge.   

Williams also says under the All Systems permit the State of Iowa enacted a couple of years ago, the county must focus on making bridges on farm-to-market routes passable by the larger loads covered by that permit. Iowa Street is not a farm-to-market route. The Jasper County Engineer’s Office will continue to research all available avenues for funding a new bridge according to Williams, but at this time she says it does not appear that it will be possible.