Board approves Osbor Road bridge award, advertises Sherman Drive and Sun Creek projects; staff to draft federal-bridge resolution

The Oktibbeha County Board approved multiple bridge-related actions after county engineer Clyde Pritchard described recent bid results and funding options.

Pritchard told supervisors the low bidder for the Osbor Road bridge (LSBP 5319) was Glasco Construction and that the bid came in significantly under the estimate; the board moved to accept staff recommendations to send the board order to state aid and proceed with contract paperwork. "We'll send contracts to Glasco. They'll get the contract bonds up," Pritchard said, and staff estimated a mobilization period of about a month after state concurrence.

Supervisors also authorized advertising the Sherman Drive box cover (LSVP 5318) and the Sun Creek bridge (LSBP 534) contingent on state-aid approval. Pritchard noted that bridge construction costs have risen: where two similar bridges cost roughly $900,000 several years ago, a comparable single bridge today is estimated at more than $1 million.

Separately, staff outlined federal bridge programs, including the Competitive Highway Bridge Program and the Bridge Investment Program, and recommended partnering with the state DOT on bundled applications. The board voted to authorize staff to draft a resolution signaling Oktibbeha County's interest in partnering with MDOT on future federal bridge grant submissions.

Next steps: staff will forward board orders to state aid, prepare contract documents for the Osbor Road contractor on state concurrence, advertise the Sherman Drive and Sun Creek projects as authorized, and circulate a draft resolution for board consideration on partnering for federal bridge funding.