(Photo Courtesy Cowley County)
Cowley County Commissioners tabled a decision concerning the fate of the East Chestnut Bridge over the Walnut River Monday night. The board expects to make a decision on Nov. 19.
Several citizens who live near the bridge east of Ark City were in attendance of the meeting in Winfield.
The bridge, built in 1925, suffered damage from May flooding. The river bank at the bridge also suffered from erosion due to those floods. Since those floods, the bridge has been closed to traffic.
Representatives from MKEC Engineering Services, who is contracted by the county, told commissioners they see two solutions: to close the bridge permanently or to replace it.
Commission Chairman Bob Voegele, who represents District 2, was the first to suggest tabling a decision.
Voegele said the county needs more time to discuss ways to fund a bridge replacement, including reaching out to the City of Ark City, FEMA and potential grants. Commissioners Alan Groom and Wayne Wilt agreed.
The board listened to comments from citizens as well, who were united in a solution that kept East Chestnut open westbound to the bypass from the east side of the river.
Christie Rogers, who lives east of the bridge, reminded commissioners of the commuting hurdles the West Chestnut Bridge closure has presented to residents there. She also said a medical emergency for her daughter in July added three minutes of travel time to the hospital because of the closed East Chestnut bridge.
“We are begging you guys, don’t just say, ‘Close it,’ she told the board. “Because it’s not that easy to us… please don’t just think three minutes is no big deal.”
According to MKEC, a bridge replacement — along with the cost of removal of the old bridge and road repair — would cost approximately $4.7 million.
