Washington County says local partnership rebuilt Farmington bridge washed out by August storm
February 20, 2026 | Washington County, Wisconsin
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A presenter on WashCo Weekly said Washington County and the Town of Farmington replaced a bridge on Indian Lore Road that was washed out during heavy rain on Aug. 11, completing repairs in roughly six months.
The presenter, identified only on the program as the show host, said the bridge — about three years old — was "completely washed out" after what he described as "almost a foot of rain in, like, 24 hours," and that the county and town pooled financial resources and coordinated with the state Department of Natural Resources to replace it. "We don't wait for the state or federal government to come and solve our problems. We solve them ourselves," he said.
Why it matters: The presenter framed the work as an example of local governments moving quickly after weather-related damage and noted that similar disasters elsewhere have required large-scale federal responses. He said Washington County hopes the president and FEMA will reimburse local costs but emphasized that local and county coordination enabled the rapid repair.
What happened: The presenter described visible damage at the site — disturbed fencing, scoured banks and a shifted span — and gave measurements of the displacement. He said one side of the bridge had about a 3-inch gap to the roadway, the abutment was 4–6 inches off in places, and the opposite side had collapsed 2–3 feet, meaning the structure had to be replaced rather than patched.
How it was done: According to the presenter, county staff worked with the Town of Farmington, pooled funds and engaged the state DNR to meet regulatory requirements and complete the replacement quickly. He acknowledged staff were "stressed" and that regulatory and administrative hurdles made the work difficult, but said local partnership allowed crews to "cut through" obstacles and finish the project.
Reimbursement: The presenter expressed hope for federal reimbursement, saying, "I hope the president and I hope FEMA look at reimbursing the town and the county," but did not say whether any reimbursement has been approved or applied for.
Next steps: The program showed before-and-after footage of the site and encouraged viewers to note the repairs. The presenter did not announce any formal county action, vote or appropriation during the segment.
Source: WashCo Weekly on Washington County; presenter statements on site and in program video.
The presenter, identified only on the program as the show host, said the bridge — about three years old — was "completely washed out" after what he described as "almost a foot of rain in, like, 24 hours," and that the county and town pooled financial resources and coordinated with the state Department of Natural Resources to replace it. "We don't wait for the state or federal government to come and solve our problems. We solve them ourselves," he said.
Why it matters: The presenter framed the work as an example of local governments moving quickly after weather-related damage and noted that similar disasters elsewhere have required large-scale federal responses. He said Washington County hopes the president and FEMA will reimburse local costs but emphasized that local and county coordination enabled the rapid repair.
What happened: The presenter described visible damage at the site — disturbed fencing, scoured banks and a shifted span — and gave measurements of the displacement. He said one side of the bridge had about a 3-inch gap to the roadway, the abutment was 4–6 inches off in places, and the opposite side had collapsed 2–3 feet, meaning the structure had to be replaced rather than patched.
How it was done: According to the presenter, county staff worked with the Town of Farmington, pooled funds and engaged the state DNR to meet regulatory requirements and complete the replacement quickly. He acknowledged staff were "stressed" and that regulatory and administrative hurdles made the work difficult, but said local partnership allowed crews to "cut through" obstacles and finish the project.
Reimbursement: The presenter expressed hope for federal reimbursement, saying, "I hope the president and I hope FEMA look at reimbursing the town and the county," but did not say whether any reimbursement has been approved or applied for.
Next steps: The program showed before-and-after footage of the site and encouraged viewers to note the repairs. The presenter did not announce any formal county action, vote or appropriation during the segment.
Source: WashCo Weekly on Washington County; presenter statements on site and in program video.
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