By HEATHER NELLIS

For the C-S-E

ROOT — The Montgomery County Department of Public Works has proposed a two-bridge replacement project in the town estimated at about $1.6 million.

The Board of Supervisors has approved the project in scope, but still has to consider adopting a bond resolution this month to finance it.

This is the first capital project proposed since the expiration of a three-year moratorium adopted by the board in light of economic downturn.

DPW Commissioner Paul Clayburn has called to replace bridges on Logtown Road (county Route 110), and Brand Road (county Route 130). Both span the Yatesville Creek, and because they're only a half mile apart, he combined them into a single project hoping it would reduce bids.

"I took the opportunity to propose replacing bridges in need of extensive work," Clayburn said, noting he had a continuing replacement program in place prior to the moratorium. "It doesn't pay to try to repair them because of the volume of work, and their age."

Bridge data on the state Department of Transportation's website says the Logtown Road bridge was erected in 1962, and the Brand Road bridge was built in 1928.

DOT's bridge data includes both state and federal ratings. The Brand Road bridge is considered "structurally deficient" by federal standards, with a state bridge rating of 4.96.

The Federal Highway Administration says "structurally deficient" if significant load carrying elements are found to be in poor or worse condition due to deterioration and/or damage, the bridge has inadequate load capacity, or repeated bridge flooding causes traffic delays.

"The fact that a bridge is 'structurally deficient' does not imply that it is unsafe or likely to collapse, but when left open to traffic, typically requires significant maintenance and repair to remain in service, and eventual rehabilitation or replacement to address deficiencies," DOT's website says. "In order to remain in service, structurally deficient bridges are often posted with weight limits."

Clayburn said the Brand Road bridge has "major deficiencies" in its parapets because its missing large chunks of concrete.

"It's a safety issue," he said. "We've looked at a number of ways to make repairs, but the concrete has deteriorated so badly, there's no way to attach anything to support it."

According to the bridge program recommendations submitted to the Board of Supervisors, rehabilitation of the Brand Road bridge would range $500,000 to $650,000, while replacement would cost nearly the same at a high-end estimate of $690,000.

The Logtown Road bridge is considered "functionally obsolete" by federal standards, with a state bridge rating of 4.80.

The FHA says "functionally obsolete" refers to a bridge's inability to meet current standards for managing the volume of traffic it carries, not its structural integrity. For example, a bridge may be functionally obsolete if it has narrow lanes, no shoulders, or low clearances.

Clayburn said the Logtown Road bridge is open, but it has a weight limit, so school buses can't use it.

"It's one of a few areas in the county where there's a substantial detour. We have a 400 square mile county with 600 miles of road, and detours usually aren't too bad, but this one is the neighborhood of 15 miles," he said.

The state considers both as "deficient bridges" because their condition ratings are less than five.

"A deficient condition rating indicates deterioration at a level that requires corrective maintenance or rehabilitation to restore the bridge to its fully functional, non-deficient condition. It does not mean that the bridge is unsafe," the site says.

Rehabilitation of the Logtown Road bridge ranges $500,000 to $700,000, while replacement would cost $750,000, according to estimates.

If the bond resolution is adopted by the Board of Supervisors this month, the survey and design work would be completed this year, with construction likely next summer, Clayburn said.