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The seven miles of road that winds through Honey Creek State Park in northern Appanoose County is being replaced this year with new concrete. Park Manager Starla Atwell Tuesday afternoon said the paving project that began immediately after the July 4th holiday should be finished by the end of the year.
Photo by Michael Schaffer / Daily Iowegian

Work continues on the Rathbun Bridge on Country Road J29. Appanoose County Engineer Gary Bishop said Thursday morning the bridge itself is in good shape and is stable. The issue is dirt under the north abutment is sliding, which has caused it to drop by three feet. He said the subcontractor on the job, De Long Construction out of Washington, is digging large, deep trenches and putting in rock buttresses to secure the fill from sliding more and then they are back filling against the bridge and filling in the void under part of the abutment and approach pavement. Eighty percent of the money to pay for the repairs is federal and the other 20 percent is from the county's Farm to Market fund. Bishop said traffic on the bridge should be back to two lanes by the end of next week, weather permitting.
By Cindy Briggs / Daily Iowegian