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The future of a bridge connecting Aspen Road and Village Road in Rushford Village is uncertain. However, following the recent city meeting, at least the council has some idea of what property owners on the seven-residence stretch may want to see. At the August 16 meeting, residents Tyler Eide, 30239 Village Road, and Michelle Kahoun, 23895 Village Road, discussed options with the council and engineer Derek Olinger of Bolton & Menk.
According to Olinger, in 2019, the bridge and roadway were investigated as part of ongoing road inspections. The city was aware the bridge was deficient after receiving a county bridge inspection report earlier. “This bridge is nearing 100 years old. The structural issues are in and around the deck,” noted Olinger. There is no timeline to make needed improvements, but he suggested the council strategize a plan sooner rather than later. “They’re not mandating it come down, but I’m not going to advise you to wait until that day comes.”
There are seven properties along the two roads with access from the west and east and the bridge is in the middle. Options include replacing the old state highway bridge with concrete box culverts and removing the bridge. “Given the size, a box culvert option is expensive. You’re looking at $500,000,” added Olinger. “We’re estimating that cost at $80,000-90,000. The primary motivator for that is no further bridge maintenance.”
Olinger has strongly advised against closing the bridge but leaving it in place. “It’s only going to get worse with time,” he cautioned. Also not advisable is selling the bridge to an adjacent property owner. “I don’t like that scenario. We know the condition of it. It’s a challenge to take control over. It may be an option for you to build your own access, but it still has to go through the same hydraulic analysis and DNR permitting. It gets expensive very, very quickly.”
In addition to the bridge, the city is considering what to do with the road surface. According to the city, it was paved once, in a joint project with Yucatan Township, in the early 2000s. It’s deteriorated considerably. Improvement options include reclamation of the surface and repaving or leaving it as gravel. Segments of the road are outside the city’s jurisdiction and belong to the township.
If the bridge is closed, Aspen Road will be transitioned to a hammerhead turn around or cul de sac for the three homes in the new subdivision. The city has an ordinance for any new subdivision to have a paved surface roadway, so it’s unlikely this section would be left gravel. Paving of the unplatted and shared western half, Village Road, is less clear.
“I see it both ways,” noted Eide, with concerns over property values declining if the pavement goes away. “If that’s the case, I’d just assume you leave the bridge open. With new houses in there, raising the tax base, it seems off to me from our end.”
“I see the savings when you do the math, taking away the maintenance,” said Kahoun. “What if you take it out, but the road remains blacktop? I can’t imagine that it will stay undeveloped. It’s a desirable little area.” She further suggested the road stay in its current condition, although deteriorated, until paving it becomes more feasible.
The estimated cost to reclaim and pave Aspen Road is $158,000, while Village Road from the bridge westward to city limits and the township portion from the city limits to Highway 16 are $131,000 and $201,000.
The council took no action on the issue but will continue investigating all options. “We just wanted to get the information out and let the landowners know what we’re thinking and see what they’re thinking,” said Mayor Dennis Overland.
During a public works update, supervisor Trenten Chiglo advised the city to utilize sewer “bugs” to treat an ongoing issue with grease build-up in the south Rushford sewer system. The bugs, an enzyme packet, are a form of bioaugmentation meant to target problems and blockages such as build-ups of fats in the system.
Chiglo cautioned the city that the lift station frequently sees grease blockages and that the pump could run dry if it builds up. “There are chunks of grease the size of my upper body,” he added. The estimated cost is $500-1,000 for six months, but it is critical to stick to the manufacturer’s maintenance plan. “If you stick to their plan, it usually works, but if you don’t, you get nowhere with it.”
Councilor Roger Knutson, who works as the City of Rushford’s Public Works Director, was familiar with the product. “I’m not 100% sold on it, but I’m not against it,” he said. “I suggest taking pictures before and after and sticking to the maintenance plan.” The enzyme takes some months to start showing results, according to Knutson. “I think it’s worth a try.”
There is a consistent problem with grease in the system, risking the pump and floats getting stuck. It was suggested the city jet the system and televise it for a visual of significant defects. “We can identify things and let the property owners know,” added Overland. The council unanimously approved ordering the enzyme.
The next regularly scheduled meeting is Tuesday, September 6, at 7 p.m., at the Village Hall. The public is encouraged to attend.
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