County engineer says two deteriorated bridges must be closed immediately

The county engineer told the board that bridge inspectors had identified two county bridges that must be closed immediately because of structural timber failure and severe decay.

“Bridge inspectors at WHKS ended up finding two bridges that need to be closed immediately,” the county engineer reported to the board, citing one span on 180th (timber piling/hydraulics failure) and another south of 180th at Kildy Avenue with an extensive drainage area and a failed timber structure. The engineer said in the transcript that the timber piles supporting both bridges are more than 75 percent decayed and that one replacement may be accomplished internally pending Corps of Engineers permitting while the other will require plans, specifications and a contractor.

Why it matters: immediate bridge closures affect travel routes, emergency response and local access. Staff said advance signage and additional warning signs will be installed this week; one nearby property/use will be directly impacted. The engineer said he would return to the board with replacement plans and pricing estimates.

What’s next: staff will install advance warning signage and close the spans as soon as possible, prepare plans and specifications and pursue required permitting with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for one of the replacements before proceeding to contracting.

Provenance: county engineer report and Q&A appear in the transcript at SEG 438–SEG 506, with closure and signage discussion extending into SEG 507–SEG 536.