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County engineer: two local bridges are grant finalists; crews preparing for statutory speed‑limit change
Summary
Mitchell County’s engineer said two bridges are semi-finalists for a federal/state bridge program and estimated combined construction costs at a little over $1 million; he also outlined a countywide effort to verify signage, sight distances and no‑passing zones before a statutory speed-limit change on July 1.
Mitchell County’s engineer told supervisors on June 16 that two county bridges are on the short list for a bridge-replacement grant and that the county is preparing for a statutory change that will raise the default speed limit to 60 mph on unposted roads.
“We got two bridges,” the county engineer said, identifying one on 320th Street and a box culvert near Stacyville. He estimated the combined construction cost for both structures is “a little over a million dollars” and said a bridge program grant could cover roughly 80% of construction costs if the county finalizes the application and is selected.
Separately, the engineer described a district- and county-level effort to evaluate roads and signage ahead of a statutory speed-limit change coming July 1. He said staff are checking stopping-sight distances, the length and placement of no-passing zones and advance-warning signs, and that staff may need to measure many miles of highway to verify compliance before adopting any local changes.
“We might be 100 feet off on a no-passing zone,” the engineer said, explaining that the county may draft an interim resolution or ordinance keeping hard-surface roads at 55 mph until engineering studies and sign changes are completed. He noted physical verification of sight distance and no‑passing markers is time-consuming and that the counties’ engineers association is working on a coordinated approach.
Board members asked about funding for the extra fieldwork and whether the bridge grant timeline might affect paving or related road projects; the engineer said the grant process and DOT coordination will determine the schedule. He also said a contractor painting project on Addison is underway and that internal tools and contractor help will be used to measure no‑passing and sight-distance sections where needed.
The county did not adopt a countywide ordinance during the meeting; instead, staff were directed to continue measurements, coordinate with neighboring counties and consult legal counsel and the DOT on the best interim approach.
