OTTUMWA — Wapello County Engineer Brian Moore announced “big news” at Tuesday’s Wapello County Supervisors meeting.

The first bridge heading north on Dahlonega Road will be replaced using a super-strength concrete, which is considered the most high-tech in the industry. This will be the first bridge project in the United States to use the concrete on “waffle” deck panels.

The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration has awarded a $382,971 grant to an Omaha company to replace the bridge in Wapello County. The company, Coreslab Structures (OMAHA) Inc., will begin construction of the deck panels this winter or spring, Moore said. The project will save the county at least $200,000. The only expense to the county is the labor costs to put the panels in.

“It is very significant,” said Moore.

The board also agreed to move forward with the clean-up of abandoned tires along Cemetery Road. They approved the lowest quote, $5,980 for the contractor to haul the tires plus the costs for trucks to take the tires away.

The supervisors hope to get the project moving along as soon as possible. First, however, they need to have a written agreement with the property owners. They hoped to get that taken care of after the meeting.

Initially, the supervisors wanted to approve a bike trail easement with the owners of the property where the tires were abandoned. However, the owners did not want to agree to the easement. The supervisors plan to address the bike trail easement at a later date.

The project, which is funded through a community disaster grant, will clear more than 1,000 tires dumped near Cemetery Road.

Also at the meeting:

• A public hearing was held to discuss the disposal of certain county property. There was no public comment. The board voted to sell two county-owned lots to a community member.

• Roger Jones, director of Ottumwa Economic Development Corporation, updated the board on OEDC’s progress. He said he is in the process of contacting truck stop and wind turbine companies, in hopes that they will start business in the county.

• Contracts were approved with Rysdam Construction to do repairs on four bridges in the county. Most of the damage came from last year’s flooding.

Pat Shaver can be reached at (641) 683-5360 or via e-mail at p.shaver@ottumwacourier.com.