At least three bridges in Yazoo County may be closed by the federal government later this year, including the highly traveled, Anding-Oil City Road Bridge.
From the perspective of the Yazoo County Board of Supervisors, that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
The Anding-Oil City bridge, which crosses railroad tracks, has long been considered to be in poor condition. The county previously placed iron frames at the entrances to the bridge to prevent large trucks from crossing the bridge, which isn’t in good enough shape to safely support heavy loads.
Yazoo County officials have been trying to replace the bridge for years, but board members say a lack of cooperation from the property owners who must provide the right-of-way and the lack of interest by railroad officials in working with the county have prevented the bridge from being replaced.
Jim Warrington, Yazoo County’s road manager, said he recently received notification that Anding-Oil City’s bridge, the bridge on Pritchard Avenue in Bentonia, and the Pepper Wilson Road bridge in the Vaughan area could all be closed by the federal government later this year due to their poor condition.
The bridge on Anding-Oil City road has been a thorn in the county’s side, and Board President Cobie Collins said that the forced closure of the bridge might help inspire those who have been obstacles to replacing the bridge to do what is needed to get the problem solved.
“If they force us to close that bridge, that might actually be the best way for us to get out of this mess,” Collins said. “The feds have the power to make the railroad cooperate. We haven’t been able to do anything with them.”
District 1 Supervisor Van Foster, who negotiated with railroad officials during his previous term several years ago, said he has talked to an engineer with the railroad who indicated that some funds may be available.
“I’ve talked to several others too, but they all give me blank stares when the subject of funding the repairs comes up,” Foster said. “They have us in a corner here.”
Foster said the biggest problem with obtaining right-of-way is the number of heirs who have a stake in the property.
“There are 21 heirs to the property across from the railroad where the old house burned,” Foster said. “I narrowed it down and finally found some.”
“The landowners won’t give us right-of-way, and the railroad doesn’t want us to move the bridge,” said District 4 Supervisor Jayne Dew.
Jack Willingham, Yazoo County Emergency Management director, said he needs to be kept informed of when the Anding-Oil City bridge might be closed because it will require some changes in the response plans of the Bentonia and Tri Community volunteer fire departments.
“It would be later on in the year,” Warrington said. “No time soon.”
“That’s a critical area because we would definitely have to make some changes to how we respond to fires and other emergencies,” Willingham said.
Inspections by the Federal Highway Administration led to the warnings that some bridges in Yazoo County may have to be closed.
In other business during the Board of Supervisors meeting Monday:
* Foster appointed Josh Kraft to the Yazoo Parks and recreation board Monday.
Kraft, who has served as a volunteer coach in the local youth softball program, succeeds board member Ashley Saxton. Kraft’s tenure began at noon Monday. He will join the recreation board at its next regular meeting.
“He shows a sincere desire to work with our local parks programs,” Foster said of Kraft. “I think he will help make a positive difference with our parks.”
Kraft’s nomination was unanimously approved by the board.
* Warrington reported that the Mississippi Department of Transportation offered to give the county over 80 road signs with the hardware required to erect them included. The county only has to provide the labor. The board voted unanimously to accept MDOT’s offer.
* Warrington informed the board that he researched the cost of replacing a single axel dump truck and a pothole-patching machine. He estimated the cost of the truck to be around $100,000, and the pothole patcher to be just under $50,000. The board agreed to consider those numbers.
