If all goes according to plan, the new Rocky Ford Bridge may be open for traffic by next week.
That’s the hope of Lyon County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield, who told KVOE News Thursday afternoon that the project is nearing the finish line with the last few pieces of work currently in the final stages.
The bridge replacement, which began last October, did encounter some notable setbacks, including deck repairs after rebar was poking through concrete on the bridge, which was laid in April. That setback alone did push the completion date back slightly, with original plans having the replacement completed by June. That said, while he would have liked to see the project completed earlier, Scritchfield tells KVOE News he’s still pleased with the overall process.
The new bridge will replace the historic Rocky Ford Bridge, also known as Bird Bridge due to it being the site of the Sandra Bird murder back in 1983. The original bridge will be shut down for traffic; however, the structure will remain intact due to its standing as a state historic site.
In addition to the near completion of the Rocky Ford project, Scritchfield says work on the bridge at Road 310 between Roads C and D is fully reopened. Despite the conclusion and near conclusion of these notable projects, Scritchfield says bridge crews will not have any reprieve as there is still a lengthy list of ongoing and upcoming projects ahead over the next several weeks, starting with a culvert replacement at Road 170 near Y.
In terms of additional bridge replacements, Scritchfield says the next item on that particular agenda will be for a truss bridge located east of the Emporia Municipal Airport. A schedule for that project is currently pending.
