School board gets new list of low-limit bridges

Published 6:00 am Tuesday, March 27, 2001

Lincoln County transportation officials and the board ofsupervisors have been working together closely over the last fewweeks trying to eliminate dangerous situations involving schoolbuses on bridges with low weight limits.

“It’s not as bad as we first thought it was going to be,” saidLincoln County School District Transportation Director DonaldCase.

During a meeting earlier this month, supervisors presentedschool board members with a lengthy list of bridges that did notmeet the weight limit to handle school buses, according to a recentreview of bridges in the county.

The list has since been minimized with the help of bus drivers,who made note of all bridges they crossed on daily routes. Schoolboard members reviewed the new list Monday during theirregularly-scheduled meeting.

It contained bridges with weight limits between 6,000 and 12,000pounds. Those bridges are safe for passenger vehicles, but thewooden pilings cannot handle the weight of a 60-passenger dieselschool bus, according to supervisors.

On average, school buses weigh between 25,500 and 27,500 poundswhen they are empty, and a bridge must have a weight limit of atleast 13,000 pounds in order to support the weight safely.

The list of bridges under the 13,000 pound minimum included:

* London Road

* Dalton Road

* West Lincoln Road (2)

* Jordan Trail

* Butler Trail

* Upton Trail

* Topisaw Drive (2)

* McCullough Road

* Junction Lane

* Bahalia Road

* Pipeline Road

* Terry Lane

* Apple Trail

* Fox Road

Case has talked with supervisors about the list and they havedeemed four of the bridges acceptable for school bus crossings.

“I don’t feel like the bridges on West Lincoln Road will be aproblem, even though they are under 13,000 pounds,” Case toldschool board members. “The supervisor in that area, Doug Moak, saidnot to worry about it.”

School board members were a little concerned about the bridgesbeing considered safe for buses carrying precious cargo. They askedCase to have supervisors make their recommendations in writing.

Supervisors hope to upgrade the bridges over the next severalyears when funds are available.

Lincoln County school buses are continuing to use the bridgesunder 13,000 pounds, but some routes may change in a few weeks.

“We’re not going to reroute any buses until I get back in touchwith the supervisors,” said Case.

Also during the meeting, Case reminded the board that the listwill have to updated each year because new students can change busroutes.

In other matters, the board decided to set a minimum amount forbids on certain types of sixteen section land.

Stan Long, who is in charge of sixteen section land matters,recommended a minimum of $25 per acre for agriculture and farmresidential leases and $50 minimum per acre for residentialleases.

The next scheduled board meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m.,April 2 at the central office on Monticello Street.