LAWRENCE CO.— During Tuesday’s meeting, Lawrence County Highway Department Superintendent Brian Sowder proposed to the commissioners replacing Bridge 176, a single-lane structure that spans Sugar Creek, with a modern box culvert.
Sowder highlighted the bridge’s significance for two local farmers who depend on it to access their fields. “The bridge is on the list to be replaced, but the cost would be around a million dollars,” he explained. Given the bridge’s deteriorating condition, he advocated for a box culvert, estimated at approximately $60,000, as a more cost-effective solution. This replacement could be expedited following the completion of a recent hydration study, which evaluates how moisture affects the durability of bridge components, including foundations and seals.
The commissioners unanimously voted to proceed with removing the aging bridge, adhere to all acquisition protocols, and proceed with the box culvert installation.
