Several old bridges in the county are slated to be replaced, county commissioners said.
District No. 3 Commissioner Brandon Carr said legislation was passed last year that the first three percent off of all new producing wells is set aside for counties to apply for to replace bridges.
“There was $10.7 million awarded statewide,” Carr said. “I applied for it and got $3 million to replace the Blue River Bridge in Armstrong.”
Carr expects to receive the money within a month. There will be environment studies and utility easement moving, and he expects construction to begin within a year or two. The current bridge was built in the 1930s.
Another bridge that was built in the 1920s on Caddo Creek Lane will also be replaced, according to Carr.
Carr had a meeting with ODOT scheduled this past Tuesday to discuss replacing the Blue River Bridge at Blue that also was constructed in the 1920s. He said that bridge is on his five-year plan of replacing bridges.
“They’re outdated,” Carr said. “They’re on the fracturecritical list in Bryan County through the state. They have to actually be inspected every year and all your fracturecriticals have to be inspected every year. All of your other bridges are inspected every two years.”
Carr said the replacements will not cost the county a dime.
“I have acquired I think $9 million for bridge replacement in three and a half years,” Carr said.
District No. 1 Commissioner Justin Boone said a dilapidated old wooden bridge on South Chicksaw Road, south of River Road, will be replaced soon at a cost of $205,000.
“It’s a dead end, but there’s three houses across that bridge,” Boone said. “The bridge is in real danger right now of caving in. So, been saving for a year to build this bridge.
“It’s going to be a bridge similar to the one (recently built) on Caney Creek. It’s going to be pretty identical to it, just bigger. A lot bigger and a lot taller.
Boone said he is hoping that construction will begin in June and it will take five to six weeks to build, weather permitting.
“We’re looking at pretty quick start date because this bridge is in bad shape,” Boone said.
