The Linn County Board of Supervisors voted Nov. 24 to establish bridge weight restrictions and authorize the county engineer to erect and maintain signage for a timber bridge on 76th Avenue adjacent to a data center project.

Garrett Redish, assistant engineer for the road department, told supervisors the timber bridge “was not designed to accommodate the large truck traffic generated by this project,” and the department is placing a load posting so the restriction can be enforced. Redish said most other bridges on the county list have already been load posted, and several were removed from the list after replacement.

Redish said the county plans to strengthen the 76th Avenue bridge in December or January. “If or when it does, we’re gonna take another look to see if we can remove the load posting to bring it back up to full operations,” he said, and the department will return with an updated resolution if the work allows.

Chair moved to establish the weight restrictions and authorize the county engineer to post signs; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

The road department also introduced John Larson as a new assistant engineer and said Larson will support ongoing bridge and road work in the county.