Bridge 113 On Springville Judah Road To Be Closed Indefinitely

Last updated on Wednesday, July 13, 2016

(BEDFORD) - Lawrence County Highway Superintendent told the commissioners Tuesday morning that he doesn’t know when Bridge 113 on Springville Judah Road will reopen.

The bridge was closed after an accident on Sunday knocked out the pier out from under the bridge and caused other substantial damage. The bridge is located between Popcorn and Harrodsburg roads.

"We called in the bridge inspector and he ordered the bridge be closed," Holmes says. "I am meeting with contractors today (Tuesday) to see what we can do. Unfortunately this is something out of our control and I am not sure if we can make repairs or if we will have to build a new bridge."

The bridge being closed is causing delays for those seeking medical attention.

Max Peters, Chief of Perry Volunteer Fire Department, attended the meeting praising the Highway Department for the improvement to county roads in Perry Township.

"We had a medical incident on Seiboldt Quarry Road Monday and it took us 4 to 5 minutes longer to get to the person in need," Peters told the commissioners.

Holmes asks the public be patient while they try to find a solution.

"I know that bridge sees a lot of traffic with Crane traffic," Holmes added. "This is just something out of our control."

In other business:

Peters praised highway crews for all the improvements to Perry Townships Roads.

"The roads were in pretty poor condition," he added. "Because of the improvements and the Recreation Park the GNCC has extended their contract and NWCC and ICCS is coming back."

The commissioners received 5 bids for a backhoe. Those bids were taken under advisement.

Highway crews have stopped paving into August. Crews are currently mowing, cutting brush and doing prep work for paving in addition to chipping and sealing some county roads.

Lawrence County Sheriff Mike Branham reported there were 149 inmates in the county jail, of those 32 were female, 9 were Level 6 felony offenders and there were no Department of Correction holds.

The jail passed their yearly state inspection on Monday.

Officials will have to make some improvements before their next inspection. The inmate cell blocks need painting and the lighting will have to be improved on the blocks.

"We are required to have 25 candlelight at desk level for the inmates," Branham says. "Currently we are at around 16 or 17."

Sheriff Branham says crews are working on a new LED lighting system in the jail.

"We are using commissary funds to pay for the project," Branham says."In the long run this will save us money seeing a substantial energy saving. We will use 60 percent less energy."

Sheriff Branham presented the commissary report from January 1 to June 1. The total assets were $123,304.55, expenditures were $103,758.55.

Emergency Management Director Valerie Luchauer is gearing up for the Lawrence County 4-H Fair and the ABATE Boogie that begins this weekend.

She also will participate in a county safety meeting on Monday.

Don Hudson, who lives in Yockey Estates, addressed the commissioners about a large ditch that hinders residents from getting to their mailboxes.

Commissioner Bill Spreen visited the area before the meeting and says 23 mailboxes are located on the other side of the ditch. Spreen asked the highway department to place asphalt in the ditch allowing residents to get to the mailboxes safely.

The commissioners passed an ordinance that would place a certain amount over the excess placed in reserve to pay for the county's insurance into the Rainy Day account.

1340 AM WBIW welcomes comments and suggestions by calling 812.277.1340 during normal business hours or by email at comments@wbiw.com

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