Work to replace four bridges on Springhill Road is complete and the bridges are now open to traffic.

County Engineer Les Dungan said each of the four bridges replaced were built in 1963, when it was common to use creosote treated timber piling as supports.

“The timber piling had since deteriorated to the point that the bridges required posting for low weight only,” Dungan said. “This posting was making the transport of timber as well as other materials in the area difficult.”

Dungan said the bridges were replaced utilizing funds through the Federal Surface Transportation Grant Program.

“This program is administered by the Office of State Aid Road Construction and is critical to the county’s ability to help maintain state aid routes,” Dungan said.

He said state aid routes make up approximately 150 miles of the 1,000 miles of road the county is responsible for maintaining. Dungan said there are 168 bridges on those roads.

The total cost of construction for each of the four bridges on Springhill Road was approximately $300,000.

Dungan said the new bridges will support legal loads of up to 80,000 pounds, therefore making them safer for heavy vehicles to use.