BEDFORD – Lawrence County Highway Superintendent Brian Sowder is spearheading extensive efforts to address a significant backlog of road and bridge repairs, in addition to catching up on widespread mowing, all of which have been exacerbated by recent persistent rainfall.
A top priority for the Highway Department is Bridge 107, a crucial connector over Spring Creek at State Road 58 and Armstrong Station Road. This bridge has been closed to traffic since June 19, 2025, following a safety inspection that deemed its structural integrity compromised and unsafe for public use.
To advance the necessary repairs and ensure the bridge’s long-term stability, the Lawrence County Commissioners today offered $90,000 to a landowner for the purchase of the required right-of-way. The homeowner has been given 10 days to accept this offer. Acquiring this right-of-way is a critical step that will enable the Highway Department to proceed with repairs, ultimately improving connectivity and safety for local commuters.
Built in 1915, Bridge No. 107 is recognized as a “Select” bridge under Indiana’s Historic Bridge Inventory, signifying its importance as a rare example of a polygonal top chord Warren pony truss. Its historic integrity was affirmed in a 2006 Programmatic Agreement on the preservation of Indiana’s historic bridges.
Beyond Bridge 107, the department is also actively working on repairing gravel roads damaged by recent flash floods, which followed torrential rainfall. Crews are simultaneously focused on completing the ongoing chip and seal project across the county.
The Highway Department has also received numerous calls regarding high grass and weeds, and crews are currently out addressing these concerns.
Commissioner President Rodney Fish lauded the tireless efforts of the highway crews. “The public is unaware of the circumstances that constantly come up,” Fish stated. “Like last night at 11 p.m., crews were out removing a downed tree from the roadway. They do an excellent job that often gets overlooked.”
