Board approves Southbridge interchange preconstruction agreement; DOT, MPO and RISE grants funded part of $18M project

The Woodbury County Board approved preconstruction agreements and related documents for the Southbridge interchange project south of Sergeant Bluff.

Laura Sievers presented the project scope and funding. She said right-of-way acquisition costs are $758,112 and the DOT's estimated remainder of the project is $18,151,883.61. "The MPO, which is our Metropolitan Planning Organization of Siouxland, is going to give $2,030,000 to this project," Sievers said, and she noted a RISE grant award of $4,796,168 (up to 21% of eligible project costs). The DOT will inspect construction and will retain ownership of the primary highway and the bridge; the county will remain responsible for county roads and some maintenance tasks (for example, snow removal on 235th Street) and will accept and maintain signals after completion.

Sievers also summarized a required agreement with Union Pacific Railroad: the county (through the DOT) will purchase permanent easements ($5,000) and temporary easements ($2,500) where needed; the UP will charge inspection and flagging costs (estimated $798,664) and require standard insurance, notice and coordination provisions. The board voted to approve the preconstruction agreements and the UP crossing agreement.