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Ann says new Grassy Springs Bridge may be only weeks away Fletcher administration sending $102,261.18 grant she requested. Adair County Road Department will construct bridge, with only tear-out, haul-away contracted. Safety concerns being closely monitored, with school busses already re-routed, 3-ton limit signs up By Ed Waggener "The news that the Grassy Springs Bridge would need replacing came on my first day in office," Judge Ann Melton said today in giving details at the bridge in an scheduled on-site visit. "The State bridge inspectors found that the middle beam was weakened, that it would have to be replaced," she said. "That was my first good news," she said, tongue-in-cheek. Indeed, the bridge is not only weakened, it sags several inches in the middle. But as bad as that "good news" was, it was quickly changed, thanks to Governor Ernie Fletcher, who made sure a grant to replace the bridge would be made, Judge Melton said in a visit to the Grassy Springs Bridge today. Action by the state was quick. Three ton limits were posted at the bridge. School busses were ordered rerouted, and the State Bridge Inspector said that monitoring of the bridge will be increased to see if a complete closure is necessary. Judge Melton wrote to Governor Fletcher shortly after receiving the news, requesting the emergency funds. She also secured supporting letters from David Jones, Director of Adair County Schools Student Transportation, whose school busses cross the bridge. Another letter was sent by State Bridge Engineer Jason Coe, Bridge Engineer with the Somerset office of the Kentucky Department of Highways. Last Friday, January 18, 2007, she had lunch with Governor Fletcher. She met with Transportation Secretary Bill Nighbert after lunch. While still in Frankfort, she received a call in Frankfort from Ginger Wills, Executive Director of the Department of Intergovernmental Affairs, who told Judge Melton to expect a call the following Monday about the funds. "But while I was on the road home to Columbia, 15 miles from Frankfort," Judge Melton said, "I got a call from Director Wills that the money had been approved." "A lot of the time the state wants you to complete the project and then be reimbursed," Judge Melton said. "This time they are giving it to us up front." Since then, Judge Melton has been told that the grant money is on its way. Adair County Road Department will do actual construction The new bridge will be built by the Adair County Road Department, an organization which has shown itself quite adept at spanning streams. Recent bridges the department has built have been two on Leatherwood Creek and its tributary on Chestnut Grove Road in District 4, the Damron Creek Bridge on Damron Creek Road in District 1; and, the latest, the Bridge on the Brock-Burris Road in District 4. The only contracted portion of the job, the tear-out and haul-away of the present bridge, is necessary because the county does not have the equipment to do that part of the work. After that, the AC Road Department takes over, Judge Melton said. The new structure will be built to higher specifications, too, Judge Melton said. A prospective tear-out contractor at the meeting, Travis Kimbler, who grew up in the area and is familiar with Sulphur Creek, said that the bridge needs to be much more substantial. "You can't believe how powerful Sulphur Creek is when it gets up," he said. Large driftwood in the creek attests to the Sulphur Creek's wallop when surges occur. Next step is pre-bid conference February 12, 2007 The next step in the construction will be a pre-bid conference at the site on February 12, 2007, at 10:00am, relative to the tear out and haul-away of the present span. At that time, detailed specifications on the tear-out and haul away will be presented. Bids will be taken until 4:00pm on February 16, 2007. Lisa Lee said that after construction starts, it might be finished in as little as three weeks. "That's how long it took us to finish the Damron Creek Bridge she said. "It all depends on the rains and the water level," she said.The latest grant is also the biggest of the four, Judge Melton said. "We're expecting the check to come Monday morning," she said. "It will be for $102,261.18. That's 80% of the estimated replacement cost of the Grassy Springs Bridge." Her administrative assistant, Lisa Lee said that the total estimate for the bridge by the State was $127,86.48.Lee said that the other emergency road grants Adair County has received in the last year from Governor Fletcher are the following:
All three of the earlier emergency projects have been completed, Judge Melton said. "I do want to publicly thank Governor Ernie Fletcher for his decisive action," Judge Melton said. "He understood how serious our situation was, and he helped us in a big way. We're grateful for that. Now it's up to us to see that the money is well spent. We intend to do that," she added. As part of the morning's inspection of County Roads, Judge Melton also visited the road crew while brush clearing was in progress on the Old Dunnville Road. Pictures only on that. This story was posted on 2007-01-26 14:46:31
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All roads lead to McGaha today Children's advocacy center in Jamestown closed for now Notice of Public Hearing re: Arnold's Landing Speaker Richards starts campaign with a roar, this time Request to bid: Grassy Springs Bridge Rep. Hal Rogers is urging faster work on Wolf Creek Dam project Driver arrested after one-vehicle accident Obituary: Jo Ann Bybee, 62 Richards-Brown III to Launch Campaign Bowling Green KY Dept. Highways Maintenance Schedule for Adair County View even more articles in topic News |
 
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