HUMBOLDT - The annual inspection report is in on the Sumner Avenue Bridge and repairs are recommended, the Humboldt City Council learned at Monday's council meeting.
The inspection was done to update information into the Iowa Department of Transportation, City Administrator Lorie Bennett said. In general, the overall rating remained constant to the 2007 inspection, the report said.
However, in a letter to the city, David Maxwell, structural engineer for the Howard R. Green Co. of Cedar Rapids, recommended the following:
Repairs to the deteriorated sections of the arches, the north end of the west pier footing, and the division wall between the sidewalk and the roadway.
Replacement of the western support for the sidewalk. The sidewalk should be closed until the support can be repaired or scaffolding installed to support the sidewalk.
Riprap should be installed at the north end of the west pier and at the east abutment.
Steel railing connections to the division walls should be repaired.
The 297-foot bridge over the west fork of the Des Moines River was built in 1920 and has an estimated daily traffic count of 4,080 vehicles, according to the report.
Bennett said there is no money for the repairs and suggested waiting until next year.
"One thing that concerns me was in the report it says the sidewalk should be closed," said Councilman LeRoy Jorgensen. "My question is how serious is it, and if somebody got hurt and we did not close it, where does that leave us?" he asked.
Councilman John Sleitner said he was concerned that if the city closes the sidewalk that people may still cross the bridge anyway.
Bennett said the city could look into ways of stabilizing the sidewalk temporarily.
Contact Robert Wolf at (515) 573-2141 or editor@messengernews.net