Two bridges closed over weekend

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, February 6, 2018

The ongoing inspections of county bridges by inspectors revealed critical findings that led to the immediate closure of two bridges.

During Monday’s Pearl River County Board of Supervisors meeting, county engineer Les Dungan said the closed bridges include one on Olive Church Road and a bridge on Homer Ladner Road.

The bridge on Olive Church Road is a three span, concrete bridge on timber pilings. Dungan said three pilings and the headwall require replacement.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

“Temporary shoring on the bridge would cost approximately $15,000 to $25,000 whereas replacing it completely would cost about $150,000,” Dungan said.

Dungan said because there are only a few houses in the area of the bridge, which is on a road less traveled, the Board could consider leaving it closed or conduct temporary shoring repairs.

“I’m proposing that we can close this bridge, and get quotes specific to those 3 pilings and get a better price,” Dungan said.

In relation to the necessary repairs to the Homer Ladner Road bridge, Dungan said he is in the right of way acquisition phase and is looking for a way to replace the bridge with state aid funding.

He proposed two possible options to address concerns with the bridge.

The first option was to continue with right of way acquisition and then replace the bridge and the second was to install two rail cars as temporary culverts at the site, similar to the ones installed along McNeill Steephollow Road.

He estimates the cost to install the culverts to be $75,000. A cost estimate for bridge replacement was not immediately available.  Dungan said that while there are no detour signs near the sites of the closed bridges, there are signs alerting motorists that the bridges are closed.

The Board requested Dungan present a more accurate pricing to conduct the repairs of both bridges by the next meeting.

In other business the Board:

— Approved a resolution honoring the Poplarville Hornets Varsity Football Team, for its accomplishments during the  2017 season.

— Approved monthly departmental reports.

— Approved a motion to elect a school board member after consolidation of the Lumberton and Lamar County School District is complete.

— Approved a motion to allow the Pearl River County Hospital and Nursing Home to re-establish a line of credit.

The next Board meeting will be Feb. 21, at 9 a.m. in the courthouse on Julia Street in Poplarville.