March 29, 2024

County lifts temporary gravel road weight restrictions

County officials have lifted the temporary travel embargo and 10,000-pound weight restriction on gravel roadways.

The restrictions were enacted Thursday after rapid snowmelt, compounded by rain, left many of the county’s rural roads impassable.

County officials made the announcement Monday morning in a statement released to the media, but county engineer Russ Stutt said there are still multiple roadways near the South Skunk River and Indian Creek which remain closed due to flooding.

“Please continue to use care while traveling on these roads,” the statement reads. “Several roads will continue to be closed due to flooding and will be signed accordingly.”

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors passed the travel restrictions at an emergency meeting Thursday afternoon at the Jasper County Courthouse. The order gave clearance for roads closures up to 60 days but could be lifted sooner if Stutt and his team felt the roadways were drivable and safe.

It appears from the extended weather forecast for central Iowa, additional flooding and wet gravel roads locally are not likely. According to the National Weather Service, Jasper County is expecting partially cloudy to sunny conditions through Saturday, with temperatures reaching the upper 50s to near 60 degrees.

Contact Mike Mendenhall at 641-792-3121 ext. 6530 or mmendenhall@newtondailynews.com