When a single-span iron bridge was erected over Owl Creek 2 1/2 miles west of Humboldt in 1909, traffic mainly was horse-drawn with an occasional light-weight jalopy chugging across.
The bridge still is in place and for years has been on Allen County’s list of those that should be replaced.
It may be soon.
Bill King, director of Public Works, told commissioners Tuesday morning the Kansas Department of Transportation had included the Owl Creek bridge in special funding for fiscal year 2014.
The only hold-up, King added, is, “We don’t know what level of funding we’ll get.”
He expects construction costs to be about $750,000, though it could escalate, depending on the economy two years hence, to as much as $1 million.
“If we get 80 percent (state) funding, we’ll do it,” King said. “If the funding is less, we’ll probably have to let it go.”
He is uncertain when level of funding will be announced, although the rule is 80 percent for projects on county road systems that KDOT helps with.
Once funding is assured, King said the county would be responsible for engineering, moving utility lines and acquiring right of way.
“The state just helps pay for construction,” he said.
The bridge won favor with the state because it has a sufficiency rating of 17.9, on a scale of one to 100. Bridges that score less than 50 are judged in need of replacement.
The load limit placed on the bridge, by engineers during periodic surveys, is nine tons.
“I drove down to look at the bridge the last time we talked about it,” said Commissioner Rob Francis. “I prayed before I drove across.”
The bridge is 55 feet long and exceedingly narrow by today’s standards at nine feet.
THE COUNTY may build two bridges in 2014.
Engineering work was approved for the Geneva Bridge, which crosses Indian Creek about two miles east of Neosho Falls, in late August.
“It, too, has been on the list for replacement for quite a few years,” King said.
