Sullivan County readies snow fleet, flags 39 'critical' bridges under new state rule

Sullivan County public works staff told the legislature they are preparing for winter while juggling a busy capital schedule and new inspection duties for local bridges.

"We had our first snow event where we rolled trucks this past week," said Ed (Speaker 5), the county engineer, noting the department staged equipment and ran salting operations in multiple locations. Snow-training and a superintendent rotation are set to begin this week, officials said.

The county has been placed on a new state "critical bridges" list for structures over 20 feet, Ed said. "Currently, we have 39 bridges that they have on our list," he said, describing a new requirement that the state's consultant identify bridges with potential scour risk in flood events and that county staff prepare a plan of action, perform monitoring during floods and keep documentation on file for state and federal inspection.

Ed also detailed projects scheduled through 2027, including County Road 82 at Forestburgh, a replacement at Benton Hollow, work near the Neversink Reservoir and a proposed realignment near Harris Hospital to reduce a sharp turn. "We're looking at realigning that one. We're seeking funding on that right now," he said.

The department is also replacing rooftop HVAC systems at the county's adult care center. "We're replacing five rooftop units, one condensing unit, and 38 fan units on the roof," Ed said, adding: "Total on that's gonna be just over $800,000 to get that work done."

Officials said many projects are in closeout and that staff are developing checklists and designs to handle next season's road and embankment repairs.

The meeting record shows no final decision on additional funding sources for the capital list; officials said several projects are dependent on securing external grants or re-prioritizing in next year’s budget cycle.

What’s next: staff will continue design work, apply for permits where needed and seek funding for the larger bridge replacements currently scheduled for 2027.