Big Rock Road

A concrete slab bridge on Big Rock Road in Dixon, Iowa, has seen better days. “The deck has concrete spalling, corrosion in the reenforcing steel, and then also the superstructure is rated in serious condition due to severe corrosion and section loss,” said Angie Kersten, a Scott County engineer.

The bridge is small, 33 feet by 28 feet, but it has a big impact. According to Kersten, an estimated 1,000 vehicles crossover it each day.

“This is one of four paved roads that connects into Clinton County from Scott County, and is locally owned,” Kersten said. “To detour this road would probably be a 30-mile detour to the next paved road into Clinton county. It’s a very important route for locals to get to business.”

The Big Rock Road bridge was built in 1923 and widened in 1970. However, it represents a negative trend in Iowa.

“Iowa is ranked number one in the percent of structurally deficient bridges, and the total number of structurally deficient bridges,” Kersten said.

Scott County is teaming up with the Iowa County Engineers Association, Iowa Department of Transportation and over 20 counties and cities to apply for a Competitive Highway Bridge Program grant from the United States Department of Transportation. The grant would help rebuild 33 bridges across Iowa.“We estimate the replacement of this bridge to cost about $850,000, and we are seeking a minimum of 70% funding from the federal government,”