(Atlantic, IA) – Cass County (IA) Engineer Trent Wolken reported to the Cass County Supervisors during their meeting, this (Tuesday) morning, he is applying for grant funds from the State of Iowa, to replace two bridges on County Road N-28 north of Cumberland and near Wiota.
Iowa recently received over $64 million in federal aid through the Competitive Highway Bridge Program (CHBP) to replace 67 poor-condition bridges and culverts across 40 counties.These federal grants are highly competitive and are administered by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Local communities and the Iowa Department of Transportation (Iowa DOT) team up to apply for the funds.
Wolken explained the process necessary to receive the funds includes a Letter of Support from the Board of Supervisors and other county leaders.
Wolken said 143 bridge projects were submitted from across the State. There are four criteria that make bridges eligible in order to qualify for the funds, including the volume of traffic on the bridges.
Cass County has 16 bridges eligible. Wolken submitted four bridges, and received approval for two, “bundled” bridge projects, which include those that are structurally deficient.
One of the bridges, the 7-mile bridge, is 150-feet long, while the Turkey Creek bridge is 75-feet long. Iowa Senator Charles Grassley has previously said many of Iowa’s rural bridges are too narrow or unable to handle the heavy loads of modern agricultural equipment and freight. New bridges keep farmers, school buses, and emergency vehicles safe and connected.
