A bridge that collapsed well over a year ago is now back open to traffic.
The Road 170 bridge over Dry Creek reopened Friday morning following 18 months’ worth of planning and work, according to County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield.
The bridge, located between Roads W and X, was already on Lyon County’s replacement list when it collapsed in early February 2024, discovered when a pickup truck drove over a caved-in portion of the structure. Elevated water flow was initially listed as among the reasons for the washout.
The reopening of the 170 Bridge comes as the county is in the planning phase of replacing the Rocky Ford Bridge on Road P over the Cottonwood River, a replacement Scritchfield says is desperately needed.
During Friday’s commission meeting, commissioners approved a unit cost bid from A.M. Cohron & Sons Inc. for better than $1.9 million for the project. Nearly $300,000 of the project will be paid for through the multi-year capital outlay fund, with the remaining $1.6 million to be paid for through a Kansas Department of Transportation reimbursement grant through the general fund Rocky Ford Bridge account.
The new bridge will be located parallel to the original according to Scritchfield, however, before work can begin on the replacement, the county will need to relocate a rare species that inhabits the river in that exact area.
Based on the current timeline, provided by Scritchfield Friday, physical work on the bridge replacement is set to begin by early next year either in the late winter or early spring.
Separately, the Highway Department is starting an overlay project on Road 130 beginning Monday. Eastbound traffic starting at Kansas Highway 99 will be one lane during daylight hours with a pilot car directing traffic through the work zone. The Highway Department has not said how long the project will last, but it says delays can be expected as work continues.
9:24 am Friday: Road 170 bridge outside Neosho Rapids reopens as Road 130 east of K-99 has overlay project ahead
Nearly 18 months after it partially collapsed, a bridge outside Neosho Rapids has been fixed and reopened to the public.
The bridge on Road 170 over Dry Creek and between Roads W and X was already on Lyon County’s replacement list when it collapsed in early February 2024 — discovered when a pickup truck drove over a caved-in portion of the structure. Elevated water flow was initially listed as among the reasons for the washout. Design work was already underway for replacing the bridge when it collapsed.
The Lyon County Highway Department announced the reopening Friday morning.
Separately, the Highway Department is starting an overlay project on Road 130 beginning Monday. Eastbound traffic starting at Kansas Highway 99 will be one lane during daylight hours with a pilot car directing traffic through the work zone. The Highway Department has not said how long the project will last, but it says delays can be expected as work continues.
