Roads engineer: $1.5M grant for Paterson bridge; Pitzer Bridge remains closed pending earthwork

Madison County’s roads engineer told the Board of Supervisors the county has secured a $1.5 million grant to help fund a bridge replacement in the city of Paterson and outlined why Pitzer Bridge remains closed.

Mike Hackett, who introduced himself as the roads secretary/engineer, said the county applied for and received a city bridge replacement grant from the state that will contribute $1,500,000 toward a project estimated at about $2,700,000. He said the county will combine that grant with its Highway Bridge Program funds and then route the agreement through the city of Paterson and the Iowa DOT for programming and federal‑aid processing.

On a separate project, Hackett said crews had hoped to open Pitzer Bridge this winter but could not complete shoulders, guardrail installation and required earthwork because wet soils would risk premature failures if used for stabilizing. He said specifications require waiting for ground stabilization and estimated a realistic reopening in March or April if weather cooperates.

Hackett also described operational improvements: the department purchased four cameras with an ICAP grant to monitor county corners for winter management and security, and he reported an assistant engineer recently resigned, which may slow some project timelines.

He asked residents to be patient while crews complete delayed work and said the county will present the federal‑aid agreement to Paterson to advance the project into DOT programming.