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Last updated on Wednesday, July 30, 2014
(BEDFORD) - The Lawrence County Commissioners approved a bid from SLR to build a new bridge on Tunnelton-Dennison Road.
The county received three bids for the project, but one was not complete and the other bid was for constructing the bridge with new beams and left out the option of using used ones.
SLR's bid was for $103,760.
The bridge is being replaced because a recent bridge inspection revealed problems with the beams.
"Bridge 199 has a beam that has failed and another that is beginning to fail. The inspectors recommended we close it and we did," says County Highway Supervisor David Holmes.
Mitchell resident Ron Pridemore wanted to know what guarantee came with the used beams.
He was told none, but a representative from SLR assured Pridemore that all have been tested and certified.
"The used beams actually test better than a lot of the new ones that are made out of recycled steel."
Commissioner Chris May told Pridemore,"As long as I'm involved we'll use used beams...it is the best solution and the right one."
The inspection also revealed problems with Bridge 52 in Fort Ritner and Bridge 54 on Jasper McKeaigg Road.
The Fort Ritner bridge and Jasper McKeaigg are both truss bridges and inspectors will be in town Wednesday to do fracture critical assessments.
Bridge 70 on Mount Pleasant Road is near completion. Holmes says contractors are working on the final stages of the stone grading and if all goes well the bridge should be done in a couple of weeks.
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