Bridges survive flood

BROWNSTOWN - Flooding June 8 caused little or no damage to most of Jackson County's bridges.

"There was nothing structural where we need to close a bridge," said Mike Magner of FPBH Inc., a North Vernon engineering and surveying firm.

Magner, who provides consulting services to the county, gave a report about two inspections after the flooding to county commissioners Gary Darlage and Monte Striegel during their meeting at the courthouse annex Tuesday. Commissioner Steve Gill was absent.

After the meeting, county highway superintendent Mike Garris said many of the repairs have been completed, but there is a long way to go. "It will probably take another month," Garris said.

Magner said the inspections focused on bridges along the East Fork of the White River and the Muscatatuck River.

The first inspection was made June 16, a week after the flooding. At that time, some areas were still covered with flood waters and could not be inspected. The second inspection was June 24.

Magner said there were some issues with the ends washed out of bridges in the Shieldstown area between Seymour and Brownstown, and approach roads to the Sparksville Bridge also were washed out.

Magner added there were some issues involving rip rap (larger rocks used to protect shorelines) around bridges, some minor erosion problems and some areas where drifts caused problems.

His report included comments about what needs to be fixed or needs maintenance.

Most of his notes on repair issues involved repairing roadways, placing additional rip rap under bridges or along riverbanks, removing drifts and cleaning debris off bridges.

Magner added he included notes about peak flows for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"FEMA wants to be able to show damage related to flooding," Magner said.

The flooding also delayed construction of a new federally funded bridge over the East Fork of the White River northwest of Vallonia.

Garris said he met with contractors Tuesday after the commissioner's meeting, and they plan to have the bridge completed by the Nov. 15 deadline.

The old Vallonia Bridge will close Monday, but Garris said tentative plans call for it to be open for Fort Vallonia Days on the third weekend of October.