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County proceeds with original schedule for bridge replacement

Subhead
Federal funds, short-term loan may help to fund burned Martin Township bridge
By
Mavis Fodness

Rock County Highway Engineer Mark Sehr will seek federal funds to replace the timber-pile bridge destroyed by a July fire near Beaver Creek.
Commissioners originally considered using $520,000 earmarked for the weight-restricted bridge south of Magnolia to repair the burned County Road 52 bridge located over the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad in Martin Township.
The cause of the blaze is still under investigation by the state fire marshal’s office.
Rather than shift the bridge project money, Sehr said he’ll apply for federal bridge dollars next month, and he’ll find out in March if funding is granted.
He said the extra time would allow paperwork and design of the new bridge to take place, he said.
“If everything goes perfect, we could be bid letting in Fall 2018,” Sehr said.
Replacement costs for the railroad bridge are estimated at $700,000.
However, if Rock County is approved for the federal funds, the money won’t be allocated until 2022.
A short-term loan may be considered to allow the construction to proceed with repayment completed once the federal dollars are received.
In the meantime, the bridge on County Road 55 near Magnolia will proceed this year.
Four bids were received, with commissioners accepting the lowest bid at their Sept. 19 meeting.
Prahm Construction Inc. of Slayton bid $319,830, an amount under the engineer’s estimate of  $455,000.
Replacement work on the Magnolia bridge could start this fall, Sehr said.

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