A portion of a DeKalb County road will be closed for a little more than a month this summer due to bridge construction.
County Mayor Mike Foster reported to the county commission Monday night that the state wants to close Dry Creek Road in the Pea Ridge area tentatively from June 6th through July 15th while the work is in progress. “It’s really going to adversely affect some people for a short period of time. They’re (state) requesting to close Dry Creek Road in order to construct the north abutment of the new bridge right below Pea Ridge. The new abutment sets on the edge of Dry Creek Road which will require a drill rig be set up that will block the road. The wing wall closest to the existing bridge sets on the edge of the roadway. This will require an excavation approximately ten feet deep into the opening up of the roadway. It is impossible to keep traffic on this section of road while this work takes place. This is the upper bridge just before you get to Pea Ridge. Everybody from just this side of the bridge, the road will be cut this side of the old bridge. So that means that everybody up there, even Cave Hollow and everything above there, will be required to go around (detour) until this bridge is replaced. It will take about five weeks. They’re going to build the abutment on the south side, southwest side, and the pier and then they’re going to close the road and add in the pier on this side. While that’s being done, it will be closed,” said Foster.
TDOT has awarded a bid to Roads, LLC of Brentwood in the amount of $623, 963 to build a concrete I-Beam bridge there. The project includes grading, drainage, and paving. Construction on this project will begin this summer. The work must be completed on or before November 30th.
Road Supervisor Kenny Edge told WJLE that the project is to be funded with 80% federal funds and 20% local matching money, including 14% from the DeKalb County Highway Department budget (state aid) and 6% from the county general fund.