New bridge at 13 curves passes inspection

Southern Commissioner Bonnie McCord, left, Northern Commissioner Neal Gerster, middle, and road and bridge foreman Ron Sloan peer over the side of the newly completed 13 curves bridge. This is the 30th bridge project in Vernon County using federal funds for the majority of the cost.

By Ben Holman

Nevada Daily Mail

On Tuesday afternoon, the Vernon County commissioners met to complete the final inspection of a newly completed bridge south of Nevada. The bridge, known locally as 13 curves bridge, replaced an old wooden plank bridge that, commissioners said, was around 100 years old.

"This is an unusual bridge project," said Presiding commissioner C. David Darnold, "in that it cost the Vernon County taxpayers zero dollars."

"For the amount of money we put into these things, we might as well get some of it back," he added. "If we don't, someone else will."

Along with the bridge project, the county also had to deal with some stream bank erosion at the bridge site and damage to rip rap before the bridge could be officially opened.

The commissioners expressed some concern about debris that had collected under the bridge, but were very satisfied with the overall project.

"I don't have any complaints," said Bonnie McCord, Southern Commissioner, of the bridge.

There is still some paperwork that needs to be completed in order for the county to be reimbursed for the project, but the bridge now open for public use and the commissioners have said that local residents are very satisfied with the project.

"I've gotten several calls saying, 'we really enjoy driving over that bridge. When's it going to be open,'" laughed Darnold.

Ron Sloan, road and bridge foreman, said that people would frequently move roadblocks out of the way in order to gain access to the area.

The bridge itself cost over $266,000, but 80 percent of the money came from federal funds, and the remainder was paid for with credits the county already had earmarked to pay for such bridge work.

The commissioners will now focus their attention on a bridge located north of Nevada that has been closed for several months now.

The bridge, also known as witch's bridge, was previously scheduled for repair; however, when the state inspector came to inspect the bridge, he determined that it was unsafe and ordered it closed until it could be replaced.