Washington Twp. bridge gets emergency repairs

Emergency repairs are being made to a Washington Twp. bridge on Alex Bell Road.

The bridge over Holes Creek — just west of McEwen Road between Imperial Woods and McEwen roads — has been in a deteriorated condition for several years, Montgomery County Engineer Paul Gruner said in a prepared statement released Wednesday afternoon.

In 2015, the engineer’s office received a federal grant to rehabilitate the bridge in 2021. But the office has monitored the bridge monthly because of its condition and an inspection earlier this month spurred emergency repairs.

The engineer’s office has taken the following actions:

• Previous load limit of 11 tons has been reduced to 5 tons;
• Plans developed for county crews to construct emergency repairs to keep bridge open;
• Alternatives being explored to advance the funding from 2021 to 2017;
• Washington Twp. Fire Department and Centerville City Schools have been notified of load limit.

Gruner said the 5-ton load limit essentially prohibits all trucks other than lightly loaded pickup trucks.

The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and Washington Twp. outpost are establishing an enforcement plan to assist the engineer’s office. That includes actively policing the area and issuing warnings or citations.

While emergency repairs are underway, lane closures may occur at times. Notice will be given of an expected two-day closure this summer.

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