Grant County accepts Morton Salt quote and hears 192-bridge inspection report

Grant County commissioners accepted a Morton Salt quote for road salt and received a comprehensive bridge-inspection briefing April 6 that outlined a multi-year maintenance and replacement plan.

Highway Superintendent Mr. White told the board that the county had hauled about 3,000 tons of stone for cold mix, completed spring maintenance tasks, and requested participation in the state salt bid. The county accepted a backup quote from Morton Salt at $116.61 per ton (up from prior prices), and the motion to accept the Morton quote carried by voice vote.

Chris Dyer, project manager for United Consulting, presented the phase-one bridge inspection report that covers all 192 Grant County bridges. He said the inspection contract is a four-year, federally required program and that the federal program reimburses counties for about 80% of inspection costs. "All your bridges have to be inspected every 2 years in order to remain eligible for funding," Dyer said, and he reviewed the binder containing condition reports, photos and a 10-year priority schedule for replacement and rehabilitation.

Dyer said the county has replaced three bridges and rehabilitated one since United took over the inventory in 2021; two bridges are under design and two bridge replacements were recently awarded to be built this year into next year. He also estimated that a small local bridge replacement construction-only cost runs about half a million dollars, with final project costs (design, permitting and construction) closer to the $1 million mark.

What happens next: highway staff will proceed with procurement steps for salt and continue bridge programming, with prioritized projects being listed for potential community crossing grants and other funding opportunities.