BROOKHAVEN — Lincoln County Engineer Ryan Holmes said a problem bridge will now be closed. His report came in Monday’s board of supervisors meeting.  

Holmes said the bridge inspection came back with a critical rating for a crossing on Russell Lane. District 5 Supervisor Doug Falvey said the bridge was closed and the board spread the closing on the minutes. 

“We have looked at it for a while. It is our worst bridge there and it was possible it would be closed,” Holmes said. “It is a bridge we would like to expedite getting replaced.”

Bridge inspection information for the crossing has not been updated yet on Mississippi Office of State Aid Road Construction for this year. In 2023, the bridge had a substructure rating of poor condition. The bridge is eligible for funding under the Local System Bridge Program. 

Falvey said he told a logger last month to stay away from the bridge. Its cap was crushed in the inspection, Holmes added. 

“The logger chose to go across the bridge and it’s a miracle it didn’t go in with him,” Falvey said. “They didn’t want to go the other way but we put those posted weight limit signs for a purpose.”

Supervisors further approved to start a program for repair which would be under the Local System Bridge Program. 

Other bridge updates

Consultants are busy inspecting timber bridges across Lincoln County now. In June 2024, 27 bridges with timber components were in Lincoln County. One of those was replaced on Opelousas Lane this summer. In 2018, Lincoln County had 108 timber bridges. 

Supervisors approved in executive session to pay a private landowner to widen an approach to a new bridge on Bethel Road. The purchase was the last hurdle for the project to begin on replacing the bridge with timber components. 

The Office of State Aid Road and Construction reported in Oct. 2023 the bridge crossing Jordan Creek was in poor condition in deck, substructure, superstructure and channel ratings. It is already posted with a weight limit. 

A separate bridge project on Auburn Drive is nearing completion as well. Holmes told the board the bridge was paved last week but they have about three days-of-work left to complete the project. He added it could take up to two weeks to finish the project as they wait on guardrails to be installed and grasswork to be finished.