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Highway updates: Orchard Road bridge emergency repairs, Bridge 91 weight limits and delayed paving
Summary
Highway staff reported an emergency restriction on Orchard Road Bridge (Bridge 30) with a three-ton posting and plans to encase deteriorated piers; Bridge 91 received a 3-ton posting and school routing changes were requested. Weather delayed paving work and multiple bids for materials were reviewed.
County highway staff briefed commissioners on multiple infrastructure concerns, emergency repairs and procurement activity.
Orchard Road Bridge (Bridge 30) showed rapid deterioration of piers during inspections; staff reduced traffic to one lane, posted the structure at three tons and proposed encasing four of the six non-encased piers to reopen the bridge. The department expects to mill and resurface the deck in a follow-up phase to extend its life by roughly a decade.
Bridge 91, off State Road 46 at Mount Liberty, likewise received a 3-ton (6,000 lb) posting because beams are deteriorating. Staff reported they have contacted school transportation and asked them to adjust routes; school buses were confirmed to have rerouted.
Paving originally scheduled for the 24th was delayed by weather; staff said the county had preserved funds for the work and plans to reschedule in April when plants reopen. The meeting also reviewed a series of bids for hauling, diesel, asphalt, stone and small-structure work from vendors including Wagler Brothers, Milestone Contractors and others.
Staff said FEMA reimbursement work continues: two reimbursements have been approved and one remains, totaling about $120,000 returned so far, with additional time-tracking documentation under review. The highway department asked the public for patience as crews prioritize the worst road segments with limited grader capacity.
Next steps: proceed with emergency repairs where feasible, track FEMA reimbursement items, and reschedule paving when weather and plant availability permit.
