Johnson County staff on Sept. 10 reported competitive bids for two bridge replacement projects and recommended the board consider formal award at its Sept. 18 meeting.

Beartown Road Southwest bridge (project LFM‑Q‑23‑7‑7X‑52) received four bids. Rob Winstead, assistant county engineer, read the results into the record and recommended award to Iowa Bridge and Culvert, LC of Washington, Iowa, which submitted the lowest bid of $581,166.55. Other bids: Peterson Contractors Inc., $587,343.98; Taylor Construction Inc., $665,053.95; and Jim Schrader Construction Inc., $674,228.80. The county engineering estimate for the project was $640,000. Winstead told supervisors both bridges have a start date of the first Monday in April and would be finished in the next construction season.

For the Greencastle Avenue Southwest bridge over Old Woman's Creek (project L‑M‑18‑1‑73‑52), bids included Peterson Contractors Inc. at $325,067.66 (recommended), Iowa Bridge and Culvert, LC at $349,049.75, and Taylor Construction Inc. at $393,885.70. The engineer's estimate for that project was $340,000.

Winstead said the secondary roads department recommends moving both awards forward for the board's consideration at the formal meeting on Sept. 18. No formal contract awards were made at the Sept. 10 work session; the board took the report for consideration and scheduled the items for decision at the upcoming formal meeting.

The board asked schedule and construction questions; Winstead replied construction was expected to begin in April and finish the following construction season and that one of the roads was currently closed, which would reduce winter restrictions on work. No votes were taken on Sept. 10; the recommendation is a referral to the Sept. 18 meeting for formal action.