Sept. 21, 2009

Chambers hopeful Cowan Creek bridge will reopen soon

By Scott Wright

CENTRE — Past delays on the bridge over Cowan Creek have taught engineer Corey Chambers not to speculate on an exact date for the span to reopen. But he said work is “moving right along” and added there's little work left to complete before cars can again traverse the expanse.

“I'd hate to say exactly when we'll reopen the bridge,” he said. “But things are looking good, as long as the weather cooperates.”

Chambers said a new concrete barrier over the span has already been poured and both ends of the water line are in place.

“The phone line is up too, and we're planning to install the power line [this] week,” he added.

At that point, Chambers said, all that will be required is a few days of decent weather to allow road crews to complete the build-up of the approaches, install new guardrails along the approaches, and lay and stripe the asphalt.

“We've got all the contractors ready to go,” he said. “All we will need at that point is a break in the rain.”

County Commissioner Kimball Parker seconded Chambers' assessment.

“If we get some good weather, we're hopeful to have it open again sometime in the next couple of weeks – if the weather cooperates,” Parker said.

Construction to replace the 40-year-old bridge began Dec. 1, 2008, when the Cherokee County Highway Department closed the road leading to the bridge and began moving utilities.

The original end date for work to replace the 240-foot span was the end of July. But icy weather last winter followed by a unionized sub-contractor that worked only four days a week combined to put the reconstruction nearly a month behind by summertime.