The Warren County Board of Supervisors took the necessary steps in speeding up the process of reopening a closed bridge on Ballground Road.

During their regular Monday morning meeting, the board approved deprograming the scheduled bridge replacement from a federal program to a state aid program. County engineer John McKee with Stantec said the move was necessary in order for work to begin on a temporary fix of the bridge.

The board also approved receiving quotes for the pile repairs and to advertise for the bridge replacement.

Completion of a temporary fix on the bridge is expected to take just a few days as the deteriorated pilings are replaced with concrete and cost between $35,000 and $40,000, which is already budgeted as part of the funds for permanently replacing the bridge.

“We hope to get it back open as quickly as possible,” McKee told the board. “I think it can be done in a couple of weeks.”

The timber bridge was closed earlier in July after it was determined deteriorating pilings had made the bridge unsafe for traffic.

A permanent bridge, which has been designed and financed, would take 6-8 months to construct, and work would not be able to begin until sometime in November.

Jail site update

Meanwhile, the supervisors also took another step closer to finalizing the deal to acquire 47 acres on U.S. Highway 80 for the construction of a new jail.

County attorney Blake Teller advised the board to accept the low bid from DSM Environmental to perform services for an environmental study at the property where the former Pinewoods Hotel was located.

DSM Environmental had the low bid of $1,350 for an asbestos study for structures located on the site and $1,600 for the land. Supervisors accepted the lowest bid over EnviorServ LLC.

When asked by supervisor John Arnold if a closing date has been set on purchasing the site, Teller said not yet.

“I expect it to be within the next couple of weeks,” Teller said.

He added the current landowners have given permission for the environmental study to take place prior to the closing date.

The supervisors recessed their meeting until 9 a.m. Aug. 20, in their boardroom on the third floor of the Warren County Courthouse.