Image courtesy of Google Maps, Maxar Technology and USDA Farm Service Agency
A bridge repair near the Audubon County Fairgrounds has been put on hold until the City of Audubon is eligible to receive federal funding for the project. The crossing in question is on North Division Street and spans Bluegrass Creek. According to Clerk, Joe Foran, city officials are aware of the issues with the structure, but they cannot move forward with replacing it due to a $3 million cost estimate.
The bridge only sees a large volume of motor vehicle traffic during the county fair. However, it is a key access point for a farmer who lives just west of the city limits. Nearby Pacific Avenue could provide an alternate route to bridges on Broadway and South Street, but Pacific is an embargoed road, meaning there are also weight limits for vehicles traveling on it. Foran says a temporary fix does not appear to be a good option either.
Up to 80 percent of the cost could be financed through federal and state programs were the bridge be allowed to deteriorate. If the bridge were to be replaced right now, the council would be forced to bond the entire project, which Foran says would place undue and unexpected burden on taxpayers. The council has decided to do nothing at this point, but they will continue to monitor the bridge’s condition and investigate additional solutions.
