Gary Swanson puts up signage in front of the 222nd Road Bridge just east of U.S. 77 late Monday afternoon near Strother Field in Cowley County. (Photo by Shane Farley)
The Cowley County Public Works Department announced Monday afternoon that it will be closing a prominent bridge near Strother Field.
The bridge on 222nd Road, just east of U.S. 77 over the railroad tracks at Hackney, is closed effective immediately. The department says the bridge has been deemed unsafe for traffic and there is no estimation at this time as far as when it will be reopened.
Crystal Merz, the office manager for the Cowley County Public Works and Engineering Office, told KSOK-NewsCow late Monday afternoon that the deck of the bridge has developed a “wear spot” and that it’s caught the attention of the department.
“We’ve been keeping an eye on it,” she said. “We’ve had our engineering firm evaluating it over the last several months and today they just made the decision it would be safest to just close it.”
Merz said the county no longer has an engineer on staff and that the county’s engineer work is contracted out to MKEC Engineering Services. Merz added that if repair costs are significant the matter will be presented to the county commission.
County Administrator Lucas Goff told KSOK-NewsCow early Monday evening the bridge was constructed in 1936 and that commissioners will hear options on its future May 7 at 9 a.m.
