Harvey County closed a single-span concrete bridge on Northwest 12th between Golden Prairie Road and Spring Lake after floodwaters undermined the structure, county road staff reported.

County Road and Bridge staff told commissioners the span — identified in reports as K‑8.6 and described as built about 1913 — suffered wing-wall erosion; a concrete wing slab detached and moved downstream. Road Superintendent Jim (Road and Bridge staff) said crews will keep the crossing closed until water levels drop and engineers can fully assess damage.

The closure matters because residences are located on three of the four corners at the bridge. Jim said alternative routes exist but the detour is an inconvenience: "The closure is just at the bridge," he said, noting it is a low-volume road but people who live there will have to use longer routes into Newton or Highway 50.

Jim described the removed piece as a "concrete wing" likely a foot or more thick and roughly 10 to 12 feet long; it had been shifting, then disappeared overnight as waters and debris moved downstream. He said the structure has an "inadequate waterway opening," a key reason the county closed it on an engineer's recommendation.

Commissioners were told the county has applied for replacement funding in the past and was not selected; Jim said the replacement will require a bridge with a significantly longer opening than the existing structure and will be "sizable." He urged patience and warned residents not to take risks at high-water crossings.

The county also reported increased debris moving downstream after heavy rains, which has exacerbated strain on bridges and culverts countywide. No timetable for repair or replacement was given; the county will reassess after waters recede and engineers can inspect the site.

For now, county staff have placed barricades at the closed approach and will monitor conditions. Commissioners did not take formal action beyond acknowledging the closure and hearing the road and bridge report.