A bid for setting the 120’ steel beams for a new bridge on South 24th Avenue West over Cherry Creek on the southwest edge of Newton was rejected on Tuesday by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors. Jasper County Engineer Mike Frietsch recommended the only bid be rejected, because it was almost twice his estimate. 

“I was figuring about $40,000. It was a shot in the dark because there is not a lot of data out there about contracting out this sort of thing. The bid came back at about $78,000. I’m not thinking we want to spend that much money on it.”

Frietsch suggested, and the Jasper County Board of Supervisors approved, having a second bid letting. It’s hoped more than one bid, and lower bids, will come in. Frietsch is also considering renting equipment for a week, which would allow the County’s Bridge Crew to put the 120’ steel beams in place. The Jasper County Engineer adds that the bridge work on South 24th Avenue West at Cherry Creek isn’t expected to occur until June.