Parke County approves engineering estimate to assess Nevis Bridge; council must fund repairs

The Parke County board voted to authorize a $23,600 consulting estimate to inspect and design repairs for the Nevis Bridge, with construction contingent on the county council finding the necessary funds. Chair (speaker 1) moved the approval and said the contract was "subject to the council finding the money to fix it."

Board members described visible bridge damage: an overloaded vehicle last fall reportedly damaged the bridge’s arches and lower cord, and portions of an upper cord were described as rotted. The chair said the consultant’s scope includes inspections, preparation of permit materials for DNR/IDNR waterway work and design of a temporary steel framework to hold the bridge during repair. "They take care of all of them," the chair said of the consultant’s permitting work.

A board member asked whether the county could immediately fund repairs; the chair said the decision on timing and construction funding rests with the county council. No construction contract was awarded at the meeting; the action approved only the consultant work and related engineering tasks.

Next steps: the consultant will proceed with the inspection and permitting work once the administrative approvals are complete, and the board expects the county council to determine whether to allocate capital funds for repairs.