A new report finds that some of Porter County's small bridges and culverts are in need of repair. Development & Storm Water Director Bob Thompson presented the findings of a small structure report from United Consulting to the county commissioners Tuesday.
"There were 33 structures that they went out and inspected, and, to let you know, there were five of them they told us that we need to get on immediately," Thompson explained.
He felt the county's bridge crews could do the necessary maintenance on one of them, while the county is seeking design services bids for the other four. He said three will likely have to be replaced with full bridges — meaning bridges longer than 20 feet — due to the amount of water that has to pass underneath or changes in flood plains.
This comes after the county had to close a bridge on 1050 South earlier this year after it failed an inspection. The commissioners Tuesday officially approved an agreement with the Lochmueller Group to design a replacement. Construction could start in about a year.
