Marion County Highway Engineer Mike McCormick says more repairs will have to be made to the Skillet Fork Bridge on the Route 161 Extension next week. He reports all traffic will be detoured beginning next Tuesday through at least Friday afternoon.
“There was a hole that showed up in the deck, concrete failure. We placed a structural plate on it just to hold the traffic until we could figure out what we wanted to do. The structural plate is now coming loose so we decided to go ahead and remove it, remove the bad concrete and put new concrete in its place.”
McCormick is pleading with everyone to follow the mandated 15 ton weight limit if they want to keep the bridge open.
“The structure is compromised and if overweight vehicles continue to go over it the structure can’t take it anymore and it’s breaking up. And there is a very high possibility that we may have to close it within 2-3 years before we get it replaced. And there are going to be some hardships in that part of the county if we have to close that structure.”
McCormick told the county board Tuesday night he is shifting funds away from other needed projects in the county to make sure money is in place to replace the bridge in three to four years. However, he is also seeking additional grant funds.
McCormick had better news on other road projects. Work should begin in mid-April on the Green Street Road and Odin Road safety improvement project. Guinzey Construction has been awarded the $1.9-million bid. McCormick says the contractor is required to keep Green Street Road open during the entire construction project, but it could be reduced to one lane at times. The Odin Road bridge north of Green Street that is being improved as part of the project will be closed at times.
McCormick says replacement of the closed Kline Road bridge in Patoka Township is scheduled for the April IDOT bid letting with work expected to begin in June or July. He is anticipating replacement of the closed Range Road bridge will be on the September or October state bid opening.
