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Benton County staff weigh relocating Hayden Road covered bridge after structural and environmental hurdles
Summary
Benton County engineers said the Hayden Road covered bridge is structurally limited and that replacing it or building a bypass will trigger fish-habitat work and potential property-acquisition hurdles, prompting staff to explore decommissioning and relocation options.
Benton County engineers on Tuesday told the Historic Resources Commission that the Hayden Road covered bridge, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, cannot safely carry heavier vehicles and faces both structural deterioration and environmental constraints that limit straightforward replacement.
The county's engineer, Laurel Beyer, and consultant Paul Topan described a roughly three-way choice: build a new vehicular bridge around the existing covered structure, which would require substantial stream work and large, fish-friendly culverts; decommission and salvage the historic timber and reconstruct it at another county-managed site; or attempt in-place repairs that would not restore full vehicular capacity. The commission did not take a formal vote; staff said they were seeking preliminary feedback before pursuing grant applications or design work.
Why it matters: the bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of three covered bridges in Benton County. It currently carries a state-imposed 12-ton weight limit, which prevents buses, large waste trucks and commercial vehicles from using the route.…
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