During Monday’s Pearl River County Board of Supervisors meeting, County Engineer Les Dungan updated the Board about ongoing bridge replacement projects in the county.

Dungan said the bridge on Otis Jones is now open to traffic and the pavement work at the location will begin as soon as weather conditions are ideal.

He said rail car culverts that will be installed as part of the work to replace a bridge on Homer Ladner Road are scheduled for delivery on March 13, and preparations are being made to reopen the road to traffic as soon as possible.

Dungan said work to replace pilings under the bridge on Olive Church Road is at a standstill until the water level under the bridge recedes.

“Due to the rains it’ll be a few more days until they can access the pilings,” Dungan said.

Construction on one of two bridges on Progress Silver Run Road is underway; In the meantime a detour has been marked in that area, Dungan said.

Easements required to replace a bridge on Oscar Smith Road have been acquired. Replacement of that bridge will be paid for with state aid funds. Work on that bridge will begin as soon as the bridge on Nelly Burks is replaced.

In relation to the ongoing maintenance of county bridges, Dungan suggested the Board talk to the legislators about supporting any bill that provides additional road and bridge maintenance funding under the Local System Bridge Replacement and Rehabilitation Program.

“Whatever legislation comes this year the key point is that we need LSBP funding,” Dungan said.

Dungan said the county is currently acquiring right-of-way required for the replacement of bridges on Sones Chapel Road and Harry Sones Road. Both will be replaced using state aid funds.

As part of additional state aid projects, work to replace a short section of Oak Hill Fords Creek and McNeill Steephollow is expected to start in the next week or two.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for March 21 at 9 a.m.