County discusses bridge work, improving pedestrian access

Bridges and improving pedestrian access in Lincoln County were talked about at a recent commissioner’s meeting.

Stahly Engineering’s Kathy Thompson said the firm is working with Montana counties to gather information on off-system bridges where a need exists for improvement work.

Off-system bridges are on a road that is not part of the designated state highway system and is under the direct jurisdiction of the local government, such as county roads and city streets.

Thompson said money is available from the federal Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, which was approved by Congress on Nov. 5, 2021, and made law by Pres. Joe Biden on Nov. 15.

Commissioner Brent Teske had a number of suggestions for bridges that need some attention locally.

Some are subject to bed load problems, which occur when flowing water piles rock near bridge abutments and causes ice jams that can result in flooding.

“That would be huge because we could plan some projects and do some maintenance before we have another ice event,” Teske said.

Teske identified the bridge on West Balsam Street where Flower Creek flows underneath it next to Pioneer Park.

“That has been subject to ice jams before and we need to improve that for pedestrian access,” Teske said.

He also said the Sixth Street Bridge should be replaced.

“That bridge gets a lot of traffic, but it’s not ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliant,” Teske said. “There are a lot of people using that area and it’s a traffic hazard with some of them having to be on the street.”

Teske also mentioned the Second Street bridge and the span over City Service Road because of the heavy equipment that’s on it and Commissioner Josh Letcher mentioned a bridge on Silver Butte Road.

“It was built in 1938 and sooner or later, something will have to be done,” Letcher said.

Thompson said there’d also be some money available to the state Department of Transportation for work on off-system bridges.