Easement for 150th Avenue bridge granted

           The Keokuk County Engineer has received the final easement and will begin accepting bids for the project work on the replacement bridge on 150^th Avenue over Coal Creek in Washington Township.

            The bridge was closed earlier this summer due to “structural deficiencies” that made the bridge unsafe for traffic, according to Keokuk County Engineer Andrew McGuire. Planning and engineering work had been taking place since late 2014, with scheduled to begin this month. In order to build a replacement bridge and proper storm water drain, the county needed to acquire land from the adjacent owners in the form of easements, a financial agreement for the county to use the land.

            The project was put on hold when one of the landowners voiced concerns about the stream, compensation level, and language in the agreement. For the past two months, the Board of Supervisors, McGuire and the landowner have been discussing terms of the easement. After speaking with his two neighbors, the landowner came to an agreement for $2,126 for the permanent easement to maintain the bridge, $150 for the temporary easement, and $2,800 for an administrative settlement.

            McGuire and the Board of Supervisors will hear bids for the project until December, but will not likely begin building the replacement bridge until late summer. The Board will vote to approve the project during their Monday, Sept. 19 meeting.