Sutliff bridge in 'critical condition,' supervisors debate future

Johnson County officials expect to receive a final report on the flood-damaged Sutliff Bridge by mid-September, but early word is that it's in “critical condition.”

Terrence Neuzil, chairman of the Johnson County Board of Supervisors, used those words Thursday to describe the 1898 bridge. That's probably not a huge surprise given that last year floodwaters on the Cedar River were strong enough to rip away one-third of it.

The main thing the county is trying to determine with the assessment that is being done by VJ Engineering is what damage is flood-related and what is merely from old age.

About $1.4 million in federal and state money has been committed to repair damage caused by the flood.

The bridge, in the northeast corner of the county, was closed to vehicles in 1981 but has remained a beloved attraction and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

Neuzil said it appears there are three options:

• Restore the bridge to its pre-flood condition. He said this was the ideal outcome, and none of the supervisors disagreed.
• Close the section that is still standing to the public and build a span to connect to it if the Federal Emergency Management Agency does not provide enough support to repair that portion.
• Tear down the bridge.

Supervisor Rod Sullivan noted that federal and state agencies will have the most say on what is proposed, while the county will be asked to give final approval.

FEMA wants an answer by November on how the county will proceed, Neuzil said.