BEDFORD – Lawrence County Highway Superintendent Brian Sowder is actively working to address critical bridge repairs and persistent flooding issues across the county. Today, the County Commissioners accepted two bids for significant bridge projects, while efforts continue to assess and potentially reopen a historic span.
CLR submitted the winning bids for two key bridges: Bridge 104 on Boone Hollow Road at $188,925, and Bridge 193 on Star Boulevard at $278,360. Although these bids have been accepted, construction on these projects is not expected to begin until summer 2026.
Meanwhile, attention is also focused on Historic Bridge 107 over Sugar Creek, situated at State Road 58 and Armstrong Station Road. The Lawrence County Highway Department closed this bridge on June 19, 2025, following a safety inspection that revealed structural concerns deeming it unsafe for travel.
Superintendent Sowder remains optimistic about the possibility of reopening the historic structure. “We may be able to make repairs by doing some welding and replacing parts and get it re-opened,” Sowder stated. However, he cautioned that due to the bridge’s age, any reopening would necessitate maintaining a 5-ton weight limit.
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.
The county now faces the decision of whether feasible repairs can be made or if a full replacement is inevitable. Should replacement be necessary, the historic bridge would require relocation to a public setting for reuse, pending a party willing to manage the complex relocation process.
In the interim, motorists are directed to use the designated detour route: Armstrong Station Road west to Fayetteville-Owen Road, then north on Indian Creek Road to Boon Hollow Road, and onward to State Road 58.
Beyond bridge work, Sowder highlighted ongoing challenges with county road flooding. “We got 5 to 7 inches of rain in a short period, and at the same time, water was released from Monroe Lake, causing the flooding to local streams and rivers,” he explained.
Despite the wet conditions, highway crews are continuing their work on chip and seal road maintenance across Lawrence County. “If we can get the weather to cooperate,” Sowder added, emphasizing the impact of recent rainfall on roadwork progress.
