County engineer to submit Eagle Road bridge for federal competitive bridge grant; local match expected

Black Hawk County staff told the Board of Supervisors on June 17 that the county has been selected to provide information for a state application to the Federal Competitive Highway Bridge Program and that the county plans to include a bridge on Eagle Road in its submission.

Cathy Nicholas, county engineer, said Iowa is one of four states selected to submit entries to the federal program that helps replace or rehabilitate deficient bridges. The county’s Eagle Road bridge is in the five‑year plan and has an estimated cost of $1.1 million. Nicholas said the county likely would be expected to pay roughly 10%–15% of the project cost if the application is successful; the remainder would come from the federal program.

Nicholas told the board the application is being prepared by a consultant in Des Moines, with the state-level submission due in mid‑August and federal selections expected by the end of the calendar year. She said award of the grant could allow Black Hawk County to move other bridges up in the schedule.

Separately, Nicholas reported that Canfield Road was closed earlier in the week for bridge deck repairs, and she listed several current road closures in the county’s southern area.

The board did not take additional formal action on the grant submission at the meeting; Nicholas said she would keep the board informed as the state application is finalized.