Replacement of the Col. Ruby Bradley Bridge over Spring
Creek in downtown Spencer has been delayed until 2011,
according to a recent construction schedule released by the
W.Va. Dept. of Transportation's Division of Highways
Photo by Neil Grahame-Spencer Newspapers
Bridge projects will be delayed
By David Hedges, Publisher
www.thetimesrecord.net
Two major bridge replacements in Roane County that had been planned for this year and next year have been pushed back.
The replacement of Corder Bridge and the Col. Ruby Bradley Bridge will each take place three years later than first announced, according to an updated project list published by the W.Va. Dept. of Transportation's Division of Highways.
Corder Bridge, on U.S. 33/119 at the Roane-Calhoun county line, had been scheduled for replacement this year.
The project is now on the schedule for the federal fiscal year that begins Oct. 1, 2009, which means the $1.5 million construction project will not take place until calendar year 2010.
Some right-of-way work estimated to cost $20,000 is on the schedule for next year.
The Col. Ruby Bradley Bridge in downtown Spencer, at the intersection of U.S. 33 and 119, had been scheduled for replacement next year.
That bridge is now slated to be replaced in calendar year 2011. The project has an estimated price tag of $4 million. Aside from the construction cost, $750,000 has been set aside for right-of-way acquisition and related costs.
The projects were included in a six-year plan first released by the Dept of Transportation in 2005.
The six-year plan was developed to coincide with the six-year federal highway funding cycle.
A revised plan was released on Nov. 30, 2006.
John E. Lewis, director of program administration for the DOH, said, some changes were due to an emphasis being placed on other parts of the program.
At the top of the list, according to Lewis, are U.S. 35 in Putnam and Mason counties, W.Va. 9 in the Eastern Panhandle and the Mon-Fayette Expressway in Monongalia County.
"Because we only receive a certain amount of federal money, we've had to rework the program," Lewis said.
"One of the goals is to have a program out there so people can be reasonably sure of what's going to be done," Lewis said.
"But periodically you have to revisit your program and make adjustments."
Some local projects dropped off the list completely, including the resurfacing of about 4.69 miles of U.S. 33 from Reedyville to Spencer that had been set for next year. Resurfacing of another 2.45-mile portion of the road was delayed until 2013.
Other projects were added, including a meter arch bridge on U.S. 119 not on the list for 2008.
Several other projects on the earlier list were delayed, including replacement of the Cotton Arch Bridge on Amma-Clio Road first set for 2007 and now planned for 2011.
Replacement of the Grannies Creek I-beam, Ash Camp Run bridge and Looneyville arch bridge on Cal Hammack Ridge, all supposed to have been finished last year, have been moved to 2008.
Replacement of the Straight Creek Bridge that also was supposed to take place last year was moved to 2010.
The six-year highway plan can be viewed in its entirety on the W.Va. Dept. of Transportation Web site at wvdot.com
www.thetimesrecord.net
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