OTTUMWA — Chillicothe residents and visitors can look forward to quicker trips in and out of town.

The Wapello County Board of Supervisors are looking for public input on proposed renovations of the Chillicothe Bridge over the Des Moines River at their meeting Monday.

The new bridge will be built about one-fourth of a mile upstream from the old bridge, said Supervisor Jerry Parker. The replaced bridge will be built over the railroad tracks.

“So the tracks will not be a factor whether you can get into or out of Chillicothe,” Parker said, adding the new location of the bridge will also prevent trucks going to the power plant from having to drive through town.

There’s a nationwide push by railroad companies to cut down on the number of crossings, the new bridge into Chillicothe will eliminate a crossing.

The renovations are a long time coming. The old bridge is narrow, and “if you drive over it, it’ll scare you,” Parker said.

The project, which will mostly be funded by an I-JOBS grant the county received, will cost about $5 million to $7 million. Additional funding will come from federal bridge dollars and the county budget.

After the hearing, the supervisors will consider a 28E agreement between Wapello County and the city of Chillicothe. The city can request bridge funds, and the agreement would allow them to hand that money to the county to go toward the project, Parker said.

County officials hope to have the project started by next summer.

Parker said the purpose of the public hearing is to “notify the people where we may need easements or where we may need to purchase their land.”

The supervisors will also consider making an appointment to the board of adjustment and hear the 2009 Weed Commissioner’s Report.

The meeting will be 5:30 p.m. Monday instead of the normal Tuesday in the board room on the third floor of the Wapello County Courthouse.

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