Adams County commissioners received two major construction updates Tuesday as the county prepares for back‑to‑back bridge closures that will affect school traffic and rural travel in the southern part of the county.
Work on Bridge 142, located on County Road 300 West between 750 South and 850 South, is scheduled to begin the week of August 17. Judy Excavations notified the county that crews intend to start then, though the date could shift slightly as they finish other projects. The bridge will be fully closed for roughly 60 days, a shutdown long enough to disrupt bus routes for South Adams students and residents in the southern portion of the Adams Central district. Commissioners said they will issue formal notices to schools and dispatch once the contractor confirms the start date.
A second project follows immediately. Bridge 105, on County Road 000 between 200 South and 300 South, will close beginning Monday, August 24. Milestone Construction has a 45‑day contract window for the rehabilitation work, though county officials said the job may finish sooner because the repairs are less extensive than those planned at Bridge 142. Triple‑Zero Road will remain closed for the duration of construction.
Highway Superintendent Nate reported that both closures fall near the start of the school year, making early communication critical. He said notices will go out several days ahead of each shutdown so schools can adjust bus routes.
Commissioners also discussed how to make long‑term closures easier for residents to track. They expect the upcoming countywide smartphone app to become the primary tool for posting road and bridge updates. In addition, they plan to work with an Amish community publication that circulates bi‑weekly, after Amish residents offered to help distribute closure information through their own communication network.
The two bridge projects mark some of the most significant rural transportation disruptions of the season. Commissioners said clear, early notice will help families plan around detours that could last more than a month.