Old Town Bridge work cleared to mobilize; contractors given firm June 15 completion deadline

Broadwater County engineers and the contractor reported construction for the Old Town Bridge project will begin after required permitting and the recent high-water stage subsided, and commissioners were told the contractor has a firm substantial-completion date under the contract addendum.

Adam Hagel of Staley Engineering said the construction contracts are executed, the contractor has received notice to proceed and recently submitted required work-bridge permits. "They are planning to mobilize to the site starting next week and then construction soon afterwards," Hagel said. He added that the contract documents include an addendum requiring substantial completion by June 15; Hagel characterized that date as a "drop-dead date" that cannot be extended.

Kathy Thompson, the county bridge department manager, and Public Works Director T.J. Gravely joined Hagel for the update. Gravely said the contractor will work on the two bridges and an associated stretch of roadway simultaneously and that county staff will ask the contractor to accelerate where feasible. The county emphasized the project is grant-funded and does not use county tax dollars.

Residents at the meeting expressed frustration about the length of the closure and public-safety concerns; resident Steve Kirk said he was present the day the bridge closed and reported a local fire response took 40 minutes to arrive during a recent fire. The county said it will provide more frequent project updates online; Hagel and county staff suggested weekly construction updates on the county website so residents can see permitting milestones, mobilization and work progress.

Ending: County staff said they will post project updates and continue communications with residents while work proceeds; the county and contractor will monitor schedule progress to meet the contract completion date.