County to replace five more bridges this summer

Having announced four summer bridge jobs in January, the Putnam County Highway Department has added five more to the slate for 2016.

Highway Supervisor Mike Ricketts announced the plans to the Putnam County Commissioners at their recent meeting, saying that highway workers, not outside contractors, will do most of the work.

The difference in these jobs and those previously announced -- two of which were federal aid projects -- is the needs can be met by prefabricated bridges that can be installed on the department's own schedule this year.

The bridge decks will be purchased from E & H Bridge and Grating, which specializes in open metal grid decking and steel beam bridges. Ricketts said concrete work will be contracted out but installation will be completed by the County Highway Department.

The bridges to be replaced are Bridge 8 on County Road 850 North in Russell Township, Bridge 42 on 25 West in Franklin Township, Bridge 76 on 375 East in Floyd Township, Bridge 110 on 525 West in Madison Township and Bridge 165 on 1200 South in Washington Township.

The bridge projects already announced include Crowe's Bridge in Greencastle Township, Bridge 248 in Jackson Township, Bridge 150 in Greencastle Township and Bridge 215 in Cloverdale Township.

Ricketts also presented some news on a state bridge that will have an effect on county roads this summer. The State Road 240 Deer Creek bridge in Chadd Valley will be closed from April through July. While the official detour will follow U.S. 231, U.S. 40 and State Road 75, it is understood that motorists will also follow unofficial detours through the Marion Township countryside.

Ricketts presented a letter of understanding from the state regarding the unofficial detour, which will include County Road 525 East, County Road 50 South and Fillmore Road.

The county's requirement is to post signs prohibiting loads of a certain size, while the state's requirement is to pay for any damages caused by the extra traffic on these roadways.

The county had a similar agreement with the state last year regarding a bridge project farther east on State Road 240.