The Guthrie County Board of Supervisors approved a bridge replacement contract at their meeting Tuesday.

County Engineer Josh Sebern explained that this project is for County Road F63 over the Middle River. This was a joint project with Cass County and was bid through the Iowa Department of Transportation. Murphy Heavy Contracting came in with the lowest bid of $786,000, about half the cost of the engineer estimate of $1.4 million. Sebern said Murphy’s bid was about $300,000 lower than all the other contractors. About 56% of the project will be funded through a federal program and the rest will come from bridge swap money. Work is expected to begin next construction season. In related business, the Board approved the annual report from County Weed Commissioner Tim Masters.