At its Aug. 25, 2025 meeting, the County Commission heard Public Works Director David Bonhambliss outline a multi-year bridge program that includes immediate repairs to three recently washed-out bridges in Marquette Township and planning for larger replacements, including a top-option estimate of $3 million for a Smoky Hill crossing between Lindsborg and Marquette.

The discussion matters because several bridges are on low-capacity alignments or in flood-prone channels, limiting use and exposing the county to repeated repairs and possible closures. Bonhambliss said the county is designing multiple large bridge projects now and applying for state funding but warned those projects will require substantial time and money.

Bonhambliss said crews found one washed-out bridge to be “not structurally sound at all” and described repair options ranging from short-term work to full replacement. He said a basic repair using concrete riprap and wing-wall work would take about two weeks and cost “probably $20,000 to $30,000,” but would require derating the structure (limiting heavy loads). For a longer-term solution, he said replacing the structure with a concrete box would require “2 months of design, probably 1 to 2 months of construction, $90,000 to $95,000.” For one large Smoky Hill crossing, consultants gave multiple options, and the highest-cost option in the materials Bonhambliss presented was $3,000,000.

Bonhambliss also described a possible temporary or modular option (railcar-style culverts) that would require material lead time and difficult installation at some sites. He told commissioners the county has put roughly $70,000 into the planning for the three washout bridges as an initial estimate and that, across the program, the county is looking at about $9 million in bridge work over the next couple of years.

Commissioners and staff discussed sequencing, contractor availability and township involvement. Bonhambliss said some bridges being designed are funded by state programs while others will rely on county capital outlay or grant applications. He recommended a field tour of the three washout sites, and staff said they would schedule a site visit and follow up with cost summaries.

The commission did not adopt a formal ordinance or capital appropriation during the meeting; most items were discussion and direction to gather more information and pursue grant applications.

Planning and procurement will depend on grant awards, design timelines and available crews. Bonhambliss said several projects are already in design with consultants Earls Engineering and Kirk & Michael and that some pipe/box culvert work is being scheduled for next year.

The commission directed staff to continue grant applications, share the cost and design options with impacted townships, and prepare more detailed cost summaries after a bridge tour scheduled for the week following the meeting.