The Sullivan County Legislature has approved bonding up to $10 million to replace five deteriorating bridges, some past the span they were meant to be used.
Some bridges have become severely rusted; others have concrete abutments that are disintegrating; and others have been paint over them that is not protecting them from the elements anymore.
The county Department of Public Works says bridges at these locations need immediate attention:
- County Route 49, Oakland Valley, Town of Forestburgh
- Hamilton Road, Burlingham, Town of Mamakating
- David Rhodes Road, Westbrookville, Town of Mamakating
- Pine Kill Road, Westbrookville, Town of Mamakating
- Hunter Road, Claryville, Town of Neversink
Officials say it's important to keep people safe, and they don't want to compromise safety for the sake of finances.
"We always make sure that it's safe, right? But what we're trying to do here is not just put Band-Aids on things but rather get back to where we need to be, which is a reinvestment of infrastructure, particularly at the time where its planned purposeful usefulness has expired. And that's the only way that it's going to remain cost effective," said Sullivan County Deputy Manager Dan Depew.
The improvements are in the beginning stages. Some projects will be open to bid proposals starting next week. But Sullivan County officials estimate the bridge projects should be done by the end of 2019.