Vinton Mud Creek Bridge

The Mud Creek Bridge on East 13th Street in Vinton, Iowa, is a country bridge that spans Mud Creek. Built in 1965, the wood-laminated timber bridge is 56 feet long. Because of its severe deterioration, the bridge is posted with a load limit of 12 tons.

To address the safety concern, the City of Vinton secured funding from the Iowa Department of Transportation (DOT) bridge replacement program. The City hired Fehr Graham to provide engineering services through the design phase.

Our team completed a topographic survey of the roadway and stream before conducting a hydraulic analysis. Using multiple cross sections of Mud Creek at intervals upstream and downstream, we modeled changes in the creek's water level relative to multiple floods to evaluate the effect of a new structure and on the historic Stony Arch Railroad Bridge 400 feet downstream.

Fehr Graham submitted preliminary plans for the DOT review process. These plans included the revised roadway and approach design, bridge structure details, hydraulic summary for permitting, plan tabulations, estimates of quantities and relevant estimate reference notes.

The project is moving forward with an anticipated bid date in fall 2025 and construction in 2026. Replacing this bridge will provide long-term access to a City wastewater lift station and allow for anticipated development on the community's east side.