The Raccoon River bridge at S. Grimmell Rd opened Wednesday morning, one day earlier than county engineer Wade Weiss expected, and two months earlier than first planned.
The $2.1 million project is funded by a grant from the Iowa Department of Transportation and federal bridge replacement funds from Greene County. Construction began last August and was expected to take a full year.
Yet to complete is placing riprap on a portion of the river bank to curb erosion. The job needs to wait until August because Topeka shiners have been found in the river, keeping any work from being done in the river while the fish are spawning.
The new bridge is designed to handle current and future traffic demands. It features enhanced safety measures, including improved guardrails, widened lanes, and upgraded load-bearing capacity to accommodate heavier vehicles and increased traffic volume.
The project is shared between the county and the city of Jefferson, as it is on a farm-to-market route but within the city limits. Godbersen-Smith Construction of Ida Grove was the contractor. Jefferson city administrator Scott Peterson publicly thanked Weiss and his office for taking the lead on the project.
