Supervisors approve bridge rail work, geotech services for F-48 W Phase 2

For the second phase of the F-48 West reconstruction project — extending from South Skunk River to Colfax — another supplemental agreement was needed in order to have proper structural designs for the end rails of a bridge that goes over a railroad. The agreement was approved April 2 by the board of supervisors.

Jasper County Engineer Michael Frietsch said the “bridge the railings that are there do not have the proper end sections on them.” Since the project uses federal aid and goes over the railroad, the county needs a proper structural design of the end rails. The agreement also adds geotechnical services.

Which mainly cover the approaches to the bridge. Frietsch said the concrete surface of the approaches need to be “rubblized,” or in other words “pounded into chunks into the ground and then new asphalt over top.” But in order to determine whether or not that is feasible, geotechnical services are needed.

The bridge rail end sections are estimated to cost $9,500 while the geotechnical engineering will cost $4,200. Combined, services amount to $13,700. But the $4,500 in savings from a past supplemental project for culvert evaluations for F-48 will reduce the total costs to $9,200, paid for in farm-to-market funds.

In mid-March, the first phase of the F-48 West reconstruction project began. Frietsch stressed the highway is closed to through traffic, but those living and/or working on that road will still be able to access their homes or businesses. The $3.81 million project extends from Lambs Grove past the Baxter interchange of I-80.