There have been many delays to smaller bridge projects in Guthrie County because of the difficulty of finding materials.

County Engineer Josh Sebern says that the price of metal has skyrocketed so much that concrete has become competitive. Sebern describes the difficulty of getting materials from vendors. 

“Sometimes when you talk to vendors you get the answer, ‘Well we don’t know when we will get it. Here is the price but we do not know when we can get it for you,’ so that really has delayed some things. We had some bridge operations targeted earlier on to get taken on this year because it is critical to farming operations, and we are not able to get that done and I don’t like that. We want to serve the community.”  

Despite the tough time to get key materials, Sebern says they are still on target to meet their five year road and bridges plan with the Iowa Department of Transportation.