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Hudson staff: up to $500,000 available for Butterfield Bridge reconstruction; neighbor safety and easements flagged
Summary
City staff said up to $500,000 in grant funding will support a full reconstruction of Butterfield Bridge; the project will require easements from nearby property owners, may close the road during construction and staff said they will pursue mitigations for school access and heavy farm equipment.
City staff told the Hudson City Council during a public information item that the Butterfield Bridge will be rebuilt with the aid of a grant that could cover up to $500,000 of reconstruction costs.
"They are giving us up to $500,000 for reconstruction," a city presenter, Jake, told the council and residents, adding that engineering costs are credited and the project will be put out to bid in the coming months. Staff said the bridge will be replaced with a box culvert and that the work will be more accommodating for farm equipment but will require temporary changes to access for nearby homes.
A nearby property owner who identified himself as Wall-E urged the city to consider safety and access for large farm trucks and school buses if the local road is closed during construction. "When you close the road, all of my neighbors from the south from my driveway south are going to have to go on Shawless to 58," he said, warning that the approach to Highway 58 is steep and difficult for loaded grain trucks and school buses.
City engineering staff (Mark) described the anticipated schedule and mitigation options. He said check plans would be submitted in February, final plans in March and the project would target an Iowa DOT letting in June, with construction likely beginning in mid-July. Mark said the city could include contract requirements asking the contractor to keep the route open during school sessions if feasible and noted staff would discuss signage or visibility improvements on Highway 58.
Staff also said the reconstruction will require three easements from two property owners; the city has begun outreach and reported one owner offered generally favorable comments about the project.
The council did not make a formal decision on design details at the meeting; staff asked residents with questions to contact city staff (Jake or Mark) and said the project will proceed to design review, easement negotiation and then bidding ahead of the expected June DOT letting.
