City, county join forces to replace, repair bridges

Published 12:00 am Wednesday, March 6, 2002

Walter “Bubba” Erwin points toward a cut through between Locust and Adams streets that he has used to get to his home since the Adams Street bridge was closed two years ago. (The Vicksburg Post/MELANIE DUNCAN)

[03/05/02]Adams Street resident Walter “Bubba” Erwin says the bridge near his home that was deemed unsafe and closed nearly two years ago is both inconvenient and a potential hazard.

“What would happen if the fire department or an ambulance had to come through here?” said Erwin as he pointed to the orange and white striped barriers at the foot of the bridge.

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In response, Vicksburg and Warren County are looking at replacing the Adams Street bridge, which crosses Glass Bayou, and repairing a bridge on Cherry Street.

“The city and county are working together on this,” said Warren County Engineer John McKee.

The Warren County Board of Supervisors authorized seeking a Community Development Block Grant on Monday to fund half of the $901,211 project. The county is putting up $346,648 in state-aid road funds, and the city approved $104,563 for the project last week.

If the application is approved by the state, work could begin this fall on the project, but Chris Gouras of Jimmy Gouras Planning Consultants said there is no guarantee that the funds will come through.

Gouras, who is preparing the application for the grant, said Warren County will be competing with counties across the state for the limited grant money.

“Last year, less than 1 out of 2 got funded,” Gouras said.

The problems with the Adams Street bridge began two years ago with what City Engineer Garnet Van Norman described as a small landslide. Van Norman said that the ground on the south side of the bayou began shifting and pushed the bridge supports out of place.

“Just out of safety’s sake we had to close it,” he said.

Since it has been closed, the 60-foot span has become a dumping ground with old couches left along the side and tires underneath.

Erwin, who lives at 350 Adams St., has to go around to Locust Street to get to his home instead of taking the direct route over the bridge less than 100 yards from his house.

“Friends and family members have to go all the way around,” Erwin said.

The bridge on Cherry Street over Glass Bayou is still open, but according to McKee is in need of repair. He said that a decision about replacing that bridge has not been made.

Both bridges are in the city limits.

Bubba Rainer, head of the city’s public works division, said there is no money in this year’s budget to repair the bridge if the grant money is not approved. There are no other plans to fund the project with local funds, he said.

CDBG funds for public facilities have been used by Warren County in the past. About $19 million is available statewide this year for public facilities, Gouras said.

The Mississippi Development Authority will announce winners of the grants.