The Nodaway County Road Department is hoping to complete one final bridge replacement project before the end of the calendar year, which would bring the total to four completed in 2025.
At the same time, the county is moving forward with larger bridge projects funded through federal programs. Known as BRO bridges, these projects typically take longer to fund and complete because they require hiring outside contractors. County officials said seven BRO bridges are currently in progress, with two possibly beginning construction before year’s end.
The county also benefits from Missouri’s “soft match program,” which partially reimburses bridgework completed by county crews. Those credits must be used for future bridge projects.
Commissioner Scott Walk said the county completes so many of its own projects that the reimbursements continue to grow faster than they can be used.
“There’s no way at these low matches that we’ll spend all of our soft match credit,” Walk said. “We’ll never catch up.” To make use of the surplus, Nodaway County has begun selling its soft match bridge credits to other counties looking to complete bridgework. In return, the county receives cash that can be used for other local projects, according to Commissioner Chris Burns.
Nodaway County has one of the highest numbers of bridges and roadway miles in Missouri. Commissioners said the county has accumulated about $1.2 million in soft match credit that can be used for bridgework or transferred to other counties in exchange for cash.