Clayton County, Iowa

Replacing the Motor Mill Bridge

The picture was taken Friday October 12. The picture shows the coffer dam around the center pier and some grubbing work on the north abutment.

During the flood of 2008, the north span of the Motor Mill Bridge was destroyed.  As a result, FEMA allowed funding to replace the north span of the bridge to the pre-disaster state of the bridge.  The south span had been washed in the 1991 flood.
 
The work includes tuck pointing the north, center and south stone abutments and the replacement of the north span.  Funding was also included to raise the bridge four feet, placing it above the high water mark.
 
The Clayton County Conservation Board and the Motor Mill Foundation started the process to raise additional funding to complete the south span and make the bridge open to cars, pickups and pedestrian traffic.
 
The total estimate for the bridge project is $1,069,322.  Funding has been secured through FEMA, REAP, UMGC, and Iowa Great Places along with private fund raising and donations. 
 
Work on the bridge started Thursday October 11, 2012.  The estimated completion date is December 5, 2012.  Once completed the bridge will look like the old iron bridge, complete with a wooden deck, open to vehicle traffic and raised four feet.
 
The Motor Mill Foundation is currently selling raffle tickets to be the first to cross bridge during the official opening.  Tickets are $50 each and can be purchased at the Osborne Conservation Center.

Last Updated on Wednesday, 21 November 2012 09:14