The Skillet Fork Bridge on the Route 161 extension will soon once again be one-way traffic with a weight limit that will prohibit large trucks.
Marion County Highway Engineer Mike McCormick told the Marion County Board Tuesday night that one section of the bridge is deteriorating rapidly and the limitations will be needed until emergency repairs are completed.
“We have found further problems underneath there that have shown themselves since the last repair. So we are going to continue to try and keep it together. We are applying for a 100-percent funded federal grant. We need to have the application in by the middle of September. That is one of the avenues we are going to try and find for its full replacement. Originally we were trying to rehabilitate it to try and get another 10 to 20 years of service life out of it, but that is no longer possible.”
McCormick plans to meet with the Marion County Board’s finance committee on August 23rd to work out a plan to pay for the emergency repairs. He says once the reduced load limit goes back on the bridge, a truck detour will be put into place. A traffic light system will once again be used to control the one way traffic. McCormick says the actual problem is on one of the five approach span bridges, but it creates a structural concern for the whole bridge. He reports at the present time there is no safety issue in using the bridge.
McCormick reported construction on the new Church Road bridge just east of Route 37 is complete, but the wet weather conditions have prohibited the construction of the approaches to the new bridge. He’s uncertain when the work will be possible.
McCormick says the improvements to the Heinzmann Road from Kell to Route 161 are being delayed due to problems in getting all of the right of way in place.
