Brown County Commissioners weigh permanent closure of Cuts Bridge 346 as repair costs mount

Brown County commissioners spent a lengthy portion of their meeting discussing the future of Cuts Bridge 346 near Hecla after highway staff reported the structure’s substructure has deteriorated to the point that engineers recommend closure. Staff told the commission that rebuilding the substructure and deck would cost in the low millions — staff cited a replacement estimate of about $2,400,000 — while limited repairs to the foundation had previously been estimated at roughly $300,000 and would not restore long-term capacity.

The highway representative said engineers had advised closing the bridge when it was no longer safe to carry traffic and warned the county could face liability exposure if the structure remained open past the engineers’ recommendation. Commissioners and local residents noted the bridge’s recreational and historical uses, including refuge and eagle-viewing areas, and raised concerns about emergency response access for nearby residents if the bridge remains closed.

Discussion focused on lower-cost alternatives and funding options: converting the crossing to a low-water crossing or multiple culverts, installing a modular steel (Holloway-type) bridge, pursuing historic-preservation grant programs, asking the township to contribute or levy for repairs, or seeking private donations. Highway staff cautioned that low-water crossings and modular bridges can carry higher maintenance burdens or perform poorly under scour and flood events; staff also said the bridge’s low traffic and short detour length would make it score poorly in federal bridge-replacement grant programs.

Commissioners asked staff to explore options and report back. No formal vote to reopen, repair, or fund replacement was taken at the meeting; commissioners instructed staff to continue researching grants, township and private funding, and lower-cost alternatives and to return with more detailed cost estimates and funding paths.

What’s next: Highway staff will look into grant eligibility, low-water crossing design details, potential township contributions and private donations, and return to the commission with options and estimates. The commission did not commit county capital dollars for replacement during this meeting.