County’s five-year road plan taking shape

Jones County’s proposed five-year road plan includes several bridge replacements and the resurfacing of some oft-used highways. 

The proposed projects add up to just under $22 million and, if approved, would replace three of the seven Jones County bridges that have posted weight limits. 

The federal National Bridge Inventory keeps track of all 623,218 road bridges across the U.S., and 42,080 are in “poor” condition, according to NBI’s 2025 report. According to the NBI, Iowa has the seventh-most bridges among the 50 states and ranks first in “poor bridges.”

At the end of fiscal year 2024 on June 30, 2024, there were 4,304 bridges deemed structurally deficient across the state, according to the Iowa DOT’s classification system.

IDOT reports Jones County is one of two counties in Iowa -- along with Clinton County -- with less than 10 bridges rated as “structurally deficient.” 

Among Jones County’s 165 bridge structures, Jones County has seven deemed structurally deficient, per IDOT.

Jones County Engineer Derek Snead said that speaks to the county’s push to use funds beyond those received by the federal government to address those bridges. 

“I think our program has been really strong in bridge upkeep,” Snead told the Supervisors. “One of the reasons we are this low is because we have not allocated just bridge funds for the replacement of bridges. We have also utilized local funds (and) our own maintenance forces and money to the upkeep of our structures.”

Snead said he believes it’s important to keep bridges up to snuff at the same pace as roads are maintained to keep motorists’ experiences equal.

“If we were to only utilize our federal bridge funds and only replace bridges (with that), our number would be a lot greater than this and, quite frankly, on par with the rest of the state. We have gone above and beyond on (bridge) structures, but at the same time, if you have a really nice gravel road or paved road leading up to a bridge posted for 10 tons, that doesn’t help the traffic trying to utilize it.”

Snead provided the newest version of the county’s five-year road plan which includes the replacement of three of the seven bridges deemed structurally deficient by fiscal year 2031. 

Among the projects on the plan are:

Fiscal Year 2027

•  A new concrete overlay of 2.7 miles of County Road E28 from County Road X28 to the Buffalo Creek Bridge for an estimated $5.3 million.

• Bridge replacement and road realignment on Landis Road over the Wapsipinicon River for an estimated $6.7 million.

Fiscal Year 2028

•  Bridge replacement on County Road X64 across the Wapsipinicon River overflow between Oxford Junction and Oxford Mills for an estimated $1.5 million. 

Fiscal Year 2029

•  A new concrete overlay of four miles of County Road E29 between Higiway 38 to Highway 136 northwest of Wyoming for an estimated $4 million.

Fiscal Year 2030

•  A new concrete overlay of 2.3 miles of County Road X28 from County Road E34 to the Wapsipinicon River Bridge west of Anamosa for an estimated $2.5 million.

• A new concrete overlay of 1.2 miles of Circle Drive from U.S. 151 to County Road E23 north of Anamosa. Snead said the scope of this project would depend on how much traffic counts increase in the area. 

“We haven’t seen a large increase in any type of traffic out there,” Snead said of Circle Drive north of Anamosa. “… As homes and businesses increase (in number) there is a chance, but we haven’t seen it yet. But in the not-too-distant future we need to do something with the (road) surface. The best construction project would be to widen it and regrade it.” 

Fiscal Year 2031

• A bridge replacement on 140th Avenue over Mineral Creek east of Amber for an estimated $400,000. Snead said this stretch of road sees 10-15 cars per day and does not necessarily lead to any residences but does provide access to a cemetery. He said the bridge spans Mineral Creek which has 22.5 square mileage of drainage. 

“It’s a significant structure as far as size goes,” Snead said. 

Supervisor Jon Zirkelbach asked if X44 through Amber could be addressed. 

Snead said X44 in that area is one of the county’s older stretches of pavements. 

“I think it’s definitely one for consideration to be put (on the plan),” Snead said. “…I think there are a couple other ones just ahead of it as far as age and replacement need.

Snead said X44, along with E17 east of Scotch Grove and E17 near Canton are also on the radar. 

The Superviors set a public hearing about the 5-year road plan for 9 a.m. Dec. 23 in the Jones County Courthouse second-floor boardroom. 

Snead also reported that he believes the box culvert replacement that has forced the closure of X31 north of Anamosa will be completed this year despite the winter weather. 

In other business, the supervisors:

• Set a public hearing for 9:20 a.m. on Dec. 9 for an ordinance adjustment that will allow accessory dwellings within the county -- which puts the county in line with a new state law allowing secondary living structures on residential properties. The city of Monticello recently approved a similar ordinance change. 

“The use is for rental income or two families living on a parcel, but you can’t split the property.,” said Jones County Land Use Coordinator Whitney Amos. “It’s just an auxiliary dwelling.”