Federal inspections had caused closures throughout state
Rules that have led to bridge closures across the state may be changing as federal transportation officials seek to make the rules more favorable on a local level.
Marion County supervisors have struggled to come up with funds necessary to complete repairs to nearly a dozen bridges closed by federal inspectors late last year.
The closures have put so much of a strain on already tight budgets that the board is looking into a $3 million bond issue, and it recently came out in favor of an increase in the gasoline tax.
According to the new provisions, county engineers statewide will be paid hourly rates instead of the lump-sum payments they previously received for inspecting county bridges.
Under the new rules, the Mississippi Office of State Aid Road Construction will pay for the inspections using federal funds. The changes are a 180-degree shift from the original rule, which left counties at bay with state and federal officials over bridge closings and the inspection process.
Half of Marion County’s 53 wood-piling bridges were inspected in December and those inspections led to closures in January. Most notably, two bridges on Williamsburg Road have been closed leading to detours and slower response times for police, fire and EMS services.
County engineers had previously done the inspections for decades, and paid $350 per bridge. Dungan Engineering has done Marion County’s inspections for many years. Though the firm will again be allowed to inspect the bridges, the rules have changed, including a mandate for a two-man crew and increased documentation.
The changes come at a time when the Marion County officials were worried about the inspections of 26 more bridges in December, and while they are in the midst of finalizing the 2018-19 budget, for which a public hearing is set on Sept. 6.
Jeff Dungan will likely discus the changes in August meetings with the board. In July sessions he described the bridges as “an ongoing situation.” He also offered a glimmer of hope for the two closed bridges on Williamsburg Road, both of which had been waiting for funding to begin the projects.
“I’m hopeful these projects will get funded in the not too distant future,” he said. “We’re being patient. We’re second on the list.”
