Supervisors approve final plans for bridge destroyed by May 2024 floods

Floods destroyed the bridge over Cherry Creek along South 24th Avenue West in May 2024, but now plans have been finalized to have it be replaced.

The Jasper County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the final plans for the project in a 3-0 vote. The bridge — classified as Bridge M03 — is one of four bridges that were damaged beyond repair after the high-water event last year. Floodwaters caused the bridge to collapse and cave in on itself.

Nicole Williams, assistant to the engineer, presented the plans to supervisors. She confirmed the project would commence next construction season, but the department is still working alongside Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to reimburse the county for the project.

Newton News previously reported that Bridge M03 had been added to the county engineer’s five-year plan for 2025. The damages fast-tracked the bridge and many others to be added to the five-year plan. The bridge was over 50 years old, and the engineer estimated the new structure will be nearly triple in size.

The other bridges impacted by the flooding include: Bridge H08, located northwest of Newton on North 35th Avenue West; Bridge L01, located east of Newton on South 12th Avenue East; and Bridge A08, located north of F-17 on North 99th Avenue East.