Bartholomew County has approved a contract with an engineering firm to replace a bridge that crosses Haw Creek.
The Bartholomew County Commissioners on Monday approved an agreement for $72,720 with USI Consultants, Indianapolis, to replace County Bridge 66, which is located northeast of Hope near the Shelby County line.
Issues with the bridge on County Road 900E were discovered earlier this year after a wing wall on the structure fell off, said Danny Hollander, Bartholomew County highway engineer. Hollander said replacing the bridge was cheaper than making the necessary repairs, which could have topped an estimated $150,000 to $200,000.
Funding for the bridge replacement work will come out of the county’s cumulative bridge fund, which helps pay for bridge and culvert repairs, Hollander said. Work is expected to begin on the project in late fall, he said.
Barricades remain in place warning the public that it remains a one-lane bridge, Hollander said.
County officials said the bridge has a low traffic, but must be replaced.
Commissioners also approved a request from Bartholomew County Emergency Management Director Shannan Hinton to sign an application with the Department of Homeland Security to apply for a $67,000 grant it is pursuing. If awarded, the grant would be used to provide the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department with two all-terrain vehicles and two trailers, Hinton said.
The county expects to hear back about its application sometime in late August or September, Hinton said.
