KDOT awards $2 million for century-old military bridge; Linn County faces up to $614,308 local match

The Kansas Department of Transportation awarded $2 million toward replacing a 110-year-old military bridge north of Mound City, but Linn County commissioners heard at their meeting that county costs could range from roughly $200,000 to $614,308 depending on whether historic-preservation conditions require an offset alignment.

Kenny Blair, a consulting engineer with CFS Engineering, told commissioners the bridge was ‘‘in bad shape’’ and recommended replacement. Blair said KDOT selected the project for funding and programmed it under the local bridge (off‑system) program with $2,000,000 committed for the work.

Blair said the $614,308 estimate from KDOT assumes a worst-case scenario in which the bridge must be shifted off its existing alignment to satisfy the historic review, a change that would add engineering, right-of-way and utility relocation costs and any expense over the $2 million cap. ‘‘My guess is if they let us go back on alignment, your obligation may be closer to $200,000 instead of $600,000,’’ Blair said.

Commissioners were also told the site’s historic designation complicates the schedule and scope. Blair said the Kansas State Historic Preservation Office can require mitigation measures or an offset alignment and that negotiating with the historic-review process could reduce or increase county costs; he offered no guarantee about the outcome.

Public‑works staff outlined the timetable: survey and forms are due soon and initial engineering fees typically arrive during design (field‑check, roughly 60 percent plans), with major expenses and right‑of‑way purchases expected closer to letting. Blair said the program currently targets a 2027 letting. Commissioners noted a KDOT submittal deadline (the transcript records a near‑term paperwork date of October 10) and asked staff to put the item on next week’s agenda so all commissioners could consider whether to pursue the funding.

County officials discussed funding options if the county’s share is substantial, including issuing bonds to spread payments. Blair and staff warned of utilities in a tight corridor near houses and said additional relocation costs could raise the county portion further.

The commissioners did not take a formal vote on accepting the grant at the meeting but agreed to continue the discussion at the next meeting and to complete the required KDOT paperwork in the near term.