Officials broke ground Friday on a $1.5 million project to replace the C.R. 100W bridge over Black Creek and realign the road just north of Interstate 74.
The project, which is scheduled for completion this fall, involves rebuilding the bridge and reconstructing a total of 1,220 ft. of pavement north and south of the bridge to eliminate an “s” curve in the road.
“The bridge was in pretty poor shape, and we’re taking advantage of replacing that bridge to also improve the safety of the roadway and improve the two curves south and north of the bridge to align them,” Jon Clodfelter, bridge department manager for project engineer United Consulting, said during a groundbreaking ceremony attended by project representatives and county government leaders.
The road is expected to remain open during most of the construction, except for a temporary closure in late summer as crews from Milestone Contractors tie in both sides of the project, officials said.
“When I pulled up for groundbreaking and I saw how much they had done, I thought, if this is a groundbreaking this isn’t going to take a week,” Montgomery County Commissioner John Frey said to laughter.
“When we improve safety, that’s our first priority and I think this is a big step to that,” commissioner Jim Fulwider added.
County highway director Jake Lough said the bridge had been a cause for concern to many residents in recent years.
The project is being funded by bonds issued by the Board of Commissioners. It is one of two other bridge projects on tap this year. Crews will also replace Jim Davis Bridge on C.R. 600W and the bridge on C.R. 550N west of Darlington.
