Jones County Engineer says decision needed soon on Ely’s Stone Bridge

MONTICELLO - If residents and officials in Jones County can agree on one thing regarding the 19th century Ely's Stone Bridge, it's that a decision about its future must be made soon.

While recent weather-related deterioration to the more than 120-year-old bridge near Monticello is mostly superficial damage, the stone facade that has crumbled off in the last few weeks is a reminder of the bridge's worsening condition.

County Engineer Derek Snead said the decision will have to be made by the Jones County Board of Supervisors, but some options include repairing the bridge, replacing it, or closing the structure to traffic and preserving it as a public space, perhaps as part of a park.

'From the secondary roads standpoint, we need very shortly to ... make a decision on what's going to happen with that structure,” Snead said.

The answer could be coming soon, as the Board of Supervisors has scheduled a March 28 meeting among interested parties to provide more discussion on the bridge and possible course of action. The meeting takes place following the board's 6 p.m. meeting at the Jones County Courthouse, 500 W. Main St., Anamosa.

Built in 1893 by Monticello's Reuben Ely Sr. and Reuben Ely Jr., Ely's Stone Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. According to a National Register of Historic Places data sheet, the 60-foot span is a significant piece of architecture because its design, which does not include keystones, is rare.

'Ely's bridge, with its three elliptical arches, may be considered an unusual variant of a relatively rare form of bridge architecture in the state,” the document states, adding four generations of Ely Sr.'s descendants, all skilled in masonry, have been responsible for the bridge's repair and maintenance.

Jones County resident Linda Mardorf, a member of the Ely's Stone Bridge Foundation, is one of several area residents who would like to see the bridge saved.

Mardorf said she is frustrated by a lack of knowing the county's plans regarding the bridge.

'The issue is we're not getting any direction or answers from the supervisors,” she said. 'We would like some answers from the supervisors and try to work together.”

Members of the Board of Supervisors could not be reached by The Gazette for comment.

It was about one year ago that an investigation of the county-owned bridge, which spans Wet Creek northwest of Monticello on Hardscrabble Road, found deterioration of the bridge's limestone blocks and mortar.

Meanwhile, cement that has covered the bridge's stone deck since the county paved it about a decade ago has damage caused by Iowa's annual freeze and thaw.

At the time of the investigation, county officials deemed the bridge as a strong candidate for replacement.

In September, representatives from the University of Colorado Denver, including Kevin Rens, a civil engineering professor and bridge expert, conducted a free survey and analysis of the three-arched limestone bridge.

That report, completed in December, found the bridge to be in fair condition, with features like the more modern guard rails and pavement in good shape. The original stone and mortar are more questionable. The report states the bridge is repairable.

'The (University of Colorado Denver) team recommends that the remedial repairs be done as soon as possible to stop further deterioration from drainage. This also gives the county time to determine the permanent solution and to obtain funding and complete the design,” the report states.

However, this spring's freeze and thaw has caused further deterioration of the bridge. Last month, some of the stone fascia on the bridge fell off the structure. While it hasn't caused structural damage, Snead said it could lead to cracking of the road's pavement, so the county has put a 10-ton weight limit on the bridge.

A previous estimate for somewhat minimal bridge repairs - mostly for drainage and masonry issues - came it at about $50,000, but Snead said that price could as much as double following the recent facade damage.

More significant repairs, to bring the bridge to serviceable condition for another 10 to 15 years cost upward of six figures, he added.

As for building a new bridge, Snead said recent bids for a bridge of comparable size came in at about $680,000.

However, building an entirely new structure next to Ely's Stone Bridge would require added road alignments, grading and other elements. Snead said those added expenses could make it a seven-figure project.

If the bridge is slated for historic preservation, grant dollars might be available.

Snead said a decision regarding the bridge's future use needs to be made before the county's secondary roads department invests any more funds into the structure.

If the bridge stops carrying vehicles, it will be taken out of the county's secondary roads network.

'It's not spending taxpayer money wisely to put secondary roads funds into a structure that is not going to be a secondary road structure. Our funds are intended to improve our roads system, not improve a future park bridge,” he said.

l Comments: (319) 339-3175; mitchell.schmidt@thegazette.com