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Leavenworth County accepts $1.09 million bid to replace Fairmount Road bridge; officials warn of widening backlog
Summary
The Leavenworth County Commission voted to accept the low bid from Brian Ohlmeyer Construction to replace Bridge ST‑26 on Fairmount Road. County staff described the structure as structurally deficient and said a long backlog of aging bridges will force future closures unless funding changes.
Leavenworth County commissioners voted to accept the low bid from Brian Ohlmeyer Construction to replace Bridge ST‑26 on Fairmount Road, approving a contract worth approximately $1,094,319.45 plus a 5% contingency.
County public works staff told the board the structure—built in 1975—has a sufficiency rating of about 36%, is posted at a 12‑ton limit and shows ‘‘full section loss of some of the beams due to rust.’’ The project was designed by Finney & Turnipseed and is funded through the county’s special highway funds and the five‑year capital improvement plan.
The move followed a lengthy staff presentation on the limited number of bridge contractors bidding on county projects. Bill, the county public works representative, said only one contractor submitted a bid on ST‑26 and that several recent bridge lettings statewide have produced few bidders because firms are booked and material and labor prices remain volatile.
“This bridge has a condition rating of poor, it is structurally deficient…sufficiency rating of 36%, and it is currently posted at 12 tons,” Bill said, describing why replacement is necessary.
Commissioners also discussed a larger funding problem: county staff said Leavenworth County should be replacing about four bridges a year but currently is replacing far fewer, leaving an estimated 50–75 bridges at risk of reaching the end of useful life in coming years. Commissioners discussed establishing triage criteria for low‑traffic bridges that might be closed rather than replaced.
The motion to accept the bid passed on a roll call vote: Michael Smith, Jeff Culberson, Vanessa Reed and Willie Dove voted aye; one commissioner was absent.
The contract was awarded with a 5% contingency to cover potential change orders; staff said the county will continue to seek local subcontractors where possible and monitor the market for additional bids on future projects.
For now, the county plans to proceed with the ST‑26 replacement as designed and budgeted, while commissioners signaled they plan further discussion during the upcoming budget cycle about how to address the widening backlog of structurally deficient bridges.
