Bridges of Red Willow County ... are OK

Red Willow County has no bridges that demand immediate attention, and very few that require repairs.

The county's roads supervisor, Gary Dicenta, told commissioners during their meeting Monday morning that none of the county's 48 bridges "are in that bad of shape."

The worse problems, he said, are cracked stringers -- cracked, not broken -- and trees growing under and/or close to the bridges. Most of the concerns, he said, are general maintenance, erosion repairs and control and correct tonnage and/or warning signs.

Dicenta recommended that the tonnage be lowered on the several bridges with cracked stringers. He also said it would be a good idea that every time a county road crew passes the bridges that they inspect the stringers for worsening cracks.

Dicenta told commissioners that bids will be let probably in April for construction of the Driftwood Creek bridge southwest of McCook. The four men discussed detour/shoo-fly possibilities during construction.

Commissioners signed an agreement to have Dicenta and Miller and Associates compile a photograph file for every bridge in the county. Dicenta/Miller and Associates will be paid $35 per bridge, plus $.40 per mile. The photographs are being requested by the Bridge Management Team of the Nebraska Department of Roads.