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County engineer reports snow response and delays on C-70 bridge work amid extreme cold
Summary
Wright County Engineer Adam Clemens told supervisors crews responded to multiple snow events and that cold temperatures delayed concrete work on the C-70 bridge after three pile foundations initially failed to meet bearing requirements.
Wright County Engineer Adam Clemens reported to supervisors that crews responded to several snow events last week, completed 10 work orders and have postponed some bridge work because of extreme cold.
Clemens said last week’s winter weather required continuous plowing and grading: light snow early in the week, an all-day event on Wednesday that kept trucks active, and continued drifting that crews chased with trucks and motor graders. He said crews documented instances when they worked outside regular hours under county ordinance and log that documentation for any overtime or deviation from standard work periods.
On construction, Clemens reported issues on the C-70 (referred to in the meeting as the C-70 Bridal/Vospori Bridal project). He said three piles did not achieve bearing capacity and crews welded and re-tapped them; once they made bearing, the contractor elected not to pour concrete on the cold Friday night. Clemens said, "they're not gonna probably get anything started" while temperatures remain extremely low (he referenced overnight readings around negative 40), and that the contractor plans to attempt the next pour when weather improves.
Clemens said the county consulted the Iowa Department of Transportation and a DOT structural engineer about cold-weather pours, and noted that DOT crews have had to remove and redo concrete that froze before curing in similar conditions. He said the contractor plans to place temperature probes and provide a temperature graph to document curing if they pour when temperatures allow.
Clemens also reported routine maintenance items including repairs to signs, ditches and other right-of-way work, and that crews prioritized inside shop work during the coldest periods.
Ending
Supervisors had no further questions and moved on to other agenda items; Clemens said the contractor will wait for suitable temperatures before resuming major pours on the C-70 project.
