Johnson County approves management contract for Sutliff Bridge

IOWA CITY – Johnson County Thursday took another step toward replacing the historic Sutliff Bridge, which was damaged in the 2008 flood.

The Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 to approve a $279,800 contract with Coralville-based VJ Engineering for design services and construction management for the bridge.

Sutliff Bridge had spanned the Cedar River in the northwest corner of the county before one-third of it was swept away in the flood. The bridge opened in 1898 and is listed on the national Register of Historic Places. It was closed to vehicular traffic in the 1980s.

A divided Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 last spring to rebuild the missing section in a design similar to what stood before. Sally Stutsman and Pat Harney voted against the project. Stutsman voted against the contract on Thursday and Harney abstained.

FEMA has said federal and state funds would cover the cost to replace the damaged part of the bridge, estimated at $1.7 million, plus about $440,000 to bring it up to code.

The design plans are scheduled to be finalized in May 2011, with the bid letting occurring that August.