DETOUR

A bridge replacement project expected to get underway this week in Montgomery County will detour traffic into the summer.

Plans call for the bridge over the Nodaway River on 265th Street to be replaced. The bridge is located between Villisca and Nodaway.

The project was let in November by the Iowa Department of Transportation. A.M. Cohron & Sons of Atlantic will be the general contractor. 

Demolition of the existing bridge is scheduled to begin this week. County engineer Brad Skinner said while he has no official completion date as of yet, he anticipates the project will keep the bridge closed until late summer or early fall. The timing of the project, Skinner said, was to limit the effect of the closure as much as possible. 

“My department is well aware that the closure for the project will be an inconvenience at best for individuals, and a several month burden for the farming and business community impacted by the project. We targeted this time frame as the least intrusive to not only take care of the project, but provide the quickest route to completion,” Skinner said. 

In addition to this bridge project, Skinner said contractors will replace a smaller bridge west of the Nodaway bridge to avoid a second closure in the future. 

 “The county wants the project done quickly as well. Rest assured, we will be working with the contractor to make it as efficient a process and schedule as possible,” Skinner advised. 

A formal detour has been established to direct traffic from the intersection of H-54/265th Street, and Hwy 71. The detour is north to 250th Street, west to M-65/Q Avenue, then south to H-54/265th Street. Local traffic will also be using several alternative roads throughout the project, and secondary roads staff will closely monitor maintenance needs on all the roads in the area. 

 “You can contact our office at 623-5197 if you observe a road issue you feel is a concern, as we will not necessarily be on-site every day,” said Skinner. 

Updates on the project will be posted on the website at montgomerycountyiowa.com. Email updates are also available and can be received by emailing engineer@montgomerycoia.us. Skinner said the updates will focus on traffic impacts from the project, as once the bridge is closed, the river crossing will be unavailable until the project completion. 

Anyone with questions can call Skinner or Jeff Skalberg at 623-5197.