County bridge and road repairs were the main topic for IMS Engineers at this week’s Washington County Board of Supervisors meeting.
IMS Engineers employees discussed the immediate closure of another bridge on Wilmot Road, as required by state aid, at Monday’s meeting.
Tommy Avant, vice president of corporate engineering for IMS Engineers, presented his report to the board, which included the Wilmot Road closure.
“Right now, state aid requires the immediate closure of that bridge so we’re gonna make sure we go out there and see exactly what needs to be done,” Avant told the board.
The bridge, located in Supervisor Tommy Benson’s District 2, already has one bridge closed further down the road, according to county road manager Arthur Perry.
Despite the closure, residents will not have to worry about being inconvenienced as Flanagan Road will serve as a detour.
“We do want this bridge closed today,” Perry said Monday morning.
Avant shared with the BOS there are four bridges the road department has repaired but are waiting for ideal conditions for next steps.
“Due to the water being high, we haven’t had the opportunity to review the repairs, but for those four bridges that have repairs, we’re gonna do an assessment on them and verify everything is done in accordance with state aid requirements and then we’re gonna request for state aid to come and do a reinspection,” Avant explained.
BOS president Carl McGee inquired as to a timetable for when those bridges can reopen.
“Normally, they would set a schedule and try to immediately get their people to come back out and reinspect within a week after we make the request,” Avant said.
Avant added there were a couple of roads they looked at which had some drainage issues — Gordon Road and Washington Road.
In reference to the Washington County Convention Center, Avant said a site assessment was performed on the race track and a recommendation on exactly what needs to be done as far as repairs will be provided at the next board meeting.
Also included in the county engineer report as presented by Avant, was approximately seven roads which are Emergency Road and Bridge Repair (ERBR) projects.
Lee Gordon said he thinks the problem with the Club 17 Road, even though there has been some communication with the state, is when it rains heavily, there’s only way in and one way out.
Gordon added it’s been nearly a month since it was repaired, but the state has yet to come and do another inspection.
“We’ve gotta open this bridge,” Gordon said, “I hope they can get in and inspect it a little quicker because I know that’s been at least four weeks ago.”
