What was originally planned as an administrative business meeting to close out year-end issues turned more into an emergency Board of Supervisors meeting to discuss bridge closures.
Monday morning yet another closure was announced, bringing the total to 15 of the 35 inspected county bridges ruled as being closed. During the Friday meeting the board voted to approve adopting the bridge closures as an emergency matter, which allows for more timely respsonse.
As of Monday morning this is a list of the closures:
Bridge located on Highway 472 with no more specifics on location.
Sharon Saratoga Rd.: 1323 and Blue Bird Dr. can be accessed from Hwy 28. For Walter Hall Dr. and 1235 or any lower address, must take an alternate route.
Tom Berry Rd.: 370 is last address off Hwy 49; any lower address must be accessed from another route. Frank & Ward Mc Lendon split with Tom Berry and Hillcrest Dr. must be accessed by another route.
New Hope Rd.: 980 is last address accessible from Hwy 49. Any address lower than 980 must take alternate route.
Graveyard Rd.: 120 Lakefront Dr. is not accessible. Brown Homestead is accessible.
Jupiter Rd.: Closed at Robert Bush Rd. 707 can be accessed from Robert Bush end. 674 and below must be accessed from Hwy 28.
Macedonia Rd.: Macedonia Church 346 and Travis May Rd must be accessed from Athens Rd. 247 or any lower must be accessed from Boggan Ridge Rd.
Jake Barnes Rd.: 618 must be accessed off Tom Coke Rd. Any address lower than 587 must be accessed from Hwy 28 end.
Van Zandt Rd. Ext.: 208 is last address before bridge. 347 cannot be accessed across the bridge.
Star Braxton Rd.: 663 at John Owens and D Barlow Dr. are the last addresses before the bridge. Any higher addresses must be accessed from Clark Rd., Rexford Rd. or Star.
Harrisville Braxton Rd.: the address of 534 can be accessed from Harrisville. Andrews Rd and 615 must be accessed from Braxton.
David Sherman Rd.: WM Powell can be accessed from Lower Rockport Rd. All other addresses must be accessed from Rockport New Hebron Rd.
Robert Russel Rd.: closed at intersection with Tip Buckley Rd and 421. No other addresses are beyond the bridge and County Line.
Pokal Rd.: A temporary culvert is being installed and will be completed this date.
Heed Neely Rd.: 875 near Lemon Albritton must be accessed from Hwy 28 end. 960 near Delancy Rd. must be accessed from Hwy 469.
The board held their regular meeting Monday and the meeting quickly turned to more discussion about bridges.
Here is the dilemma the county is faced with under the new approved budget the county has $72,000 in the new budget for bridges adn $75,000 in the culvert funds. So the county could take the estimated $78,000 in repairs to the pilings and make the repairs. But that creates two issues. One there will be more cost than just the piling replacement. Secondly, this same issues is going to happen again next year and then the following year. The next inspection cycle is July 1, 2018. At the end of the 3-year period all of the bridges on state aid roads should be in good shape.
The county has basically three options regarding the bridge issue. Number 1, They can do nothing and leave the bridges closed. Number 2, They could spend all the money that is budgeted for the year for bridge and cluvrets. Number 3, The county could issue Emergency Bridge Bonds for approximately $3 million. This is a rough estimate on the cost of repair for all bridges this would increase the existing milage by and additional two mills over the 3.5 that was just approved for road paving.
The board did not make a final decision however it was the consensus of the board to move ahead with the currently budgeted funds to address the road closure.
The board decided move ahead under an emergency declaration and contract with Grant Blakeney to start repair on seven bridges which are; Harrisville to Braxton, Star to Braxton, Saratoga, New Hope, Tom Berry and Macedonia Roads. Once repair is completed the county has the understanding from State Aid crews will be sent back to immediately inspect the bridges. This will give a standard on what the county could expect for the remaining bridges needing repair.
Buddy Wolverton, county engineer, is not as hopeful stating that it could be March of next year before the inspectors come back.
Originally, figures for the work that was contracted was not available but Representative Andy Gipson was able to get copies of the contract plus other information. The total cost associated with the inspection is $3.5 million. It was reported at the board meeting that Jeff Davis County had a total of 30 bridges that were closed. State Aid along with the Mississippi Department of Transporation is doing this because the state may loose federal funding if they do not comply with federal standards.
Jones County is reported as having a $4.5 million bond issue to pay for repairs.
The repairs that Blakeney is discussing is $2,500 per piling that is repaired and spliced the wooden piling. The new pilings will be encased in cement along with steel support. Once the first seven repairs are made the state will be contacted for inspection. The repair process should take about two weeks once the work starts and the board is hopeful to have Blakeney on the job this week.
