Repair work to Zollingers Bridge expected to get underway soon

Published 9:30 pm Tuesday, June 5, 2018

Work could soon be underway to reopen the Zollingers Hill bridge.

Vicksburg Public Works Director Garnet Van Norman said Tuesday the city has accepted a $16,000 quote from Fordice Construction Co. of Vicksburg to repair a damaged wooden piling on the bridge. Mississippi State Aid road officials closed the bridge March 3 after an inspection indicated a section of the piling was rotting, making the bridge unsafe.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

Zollingers Hill is a one-way street running between Skyfarm Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard. It is a popular short cut for people living on Sky Farm and neighboring streets to the east to get to Martin Luther King.

Van Norman said Fordice was the only company to quote a price for the work.

He said plans for the repair call for the splintered part of the damaged piling to be cut out and spliced using a concrete piling and bracing to strengthen it.

He did not know when work would begin on the repairs.

Because the bridge is a state aid bridge, Van Norman said, Warren County supervisors will put it on their list to replace the wooden pilings with concrete pilings.

“But that takes time; we need to get the bridge open, so we’re going to splice it (the piling) and get the bridge open,” he said, adding a weight limit will be placed on the bridge.

North Ward Alderman Michael Mayfield said he believes the county has received state approval to make the repairs, “(But) that may take 8, 10, months, maybe a year, I’m not sure, but what we’re doing is get the area the state is most concerned about.

“I want it (the repairs) done as quickly as possible because of the danger people in the area face because of people coming off Zollingers Hill,” Mayfield continued. “That is a very blind sport coming off that hill, and then you have people, when they realize you don’t have traffic coming from that way, they begin to park down there and do all kinds of things they shouldn’t be doing.”

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

email author More by John