Grant County pushes back bridge bids, requires wider road top and schedules public input for Heart River Bridge project

Grant County officials on Feb. 18 adjusted the timeline and technical requirements for work tied to the Heart River Bridge replacement, citing intersection visibility and the need for alternate routes while the bridge is replaced in 2027.

John Sauber of Sauber Engineering told the board the intersection of 55th St. SW and 58th Ave. SW has poor visibility for prevailing traffic speeds and needs attention as alternate routes are planned for the 2027 bridge replacement. The board voted unanimously to move the bid opening for gravel crushing and stockpiling to March 18, 2026, and to set an adjusted project completion date of Oct. 1, 2026.

As part of the bid amendments, the board required a 22‑foot road top for shaping and graveling contracts and directed the Grant County Road Department to complete a culvert inventory before bids are submitted so departments can determine which culverts must be replaced and whether replacements should be included in the bids or done in advance.

The board scheduled a public input meeting on the Heart River Bridge replacement for Feb. 24, 2026, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Grant County Fair Building and noted that presentation slides would be posted to the Grant County website calendar. Commissioner Al Roy Hochhalter moved to amend the bid requirements; Commissioner Marty Meyer seconded, and the motion passed on a unanimous roll-call vote.

The board also noted that bid specifications will be clarified to require the 22‑foot road top and that the culvert inventory is intended to improve bid accuracy and reduce change orders during construction. The public input meeting will allow residents to review routes, temporary detours and project timing ahead of construction.