McPherson County commissioners voted to hire Kirk and Michael and Associates to design a concrete bridge for Pueblo Road between 20 Third and 20 Fourth after heavy rains partially washed out an older timber structure.

Public Works Director David Barnbliss told the commission the road is “a pretty active road just west of Maxwell Game Preserve” and that the timber structure “is around 60, but I’ll look it up after” when board members asked about dimensions. He said the road is closed but people have been driving around the closure and that “three bridges get washed out” during the recent rains, prompting the request to accelerate replacement planning.

Barnbliss asked the commission to approve a survey, hydrologic and hydraulic analysis and a plan that will allow the county to have a concrete product manufacturer redesign and build precast components for later installation. The county approved the agreement; Barnbliss said the engineering lump-sum fee is $5,700 and provided an estimate for the bridge structure itself of $5,060,000, plus the county’s installation costs.

The county will proceed with the engineering contract with Kirk and Michael and plan procurement and installation in coordination with other bridge projects. Barnbliss said the county had planned to replace the timber bridge in a year or two but the storm damage moved it up the priority list.

The motion to approve the agreement was made during the meeting and carried by voice vote.

Background: Barnbliss said several other bridges and low-water crossings in the county were damaged in the same weather events; staff are juggling 8–15 bridge and culvert projects and will return with additional procurement requests for culverts and installations in the weeks ahead.

Ending: The county will sign and send the Kirk and Michael agreement and return to the commission with construction planning and estimated installation costs for the Pueblo Road replacement and related projects.