County Bridge To Remain Open

— State officials have reversed their decision that Benton County should close the Cow Face Road bridge over Hickory Creek, County Judge Bob Clinard said Monday.

Clinard had said he would not close the bridge and he asked the Arkansas Highway and Transportation Department for detailed engineering information justifying its December order to close the bridge. In a Dec. 20 letter to the county the Highway Department mentioned a recent asphalt overlay of the bridge done by the county and said the girders could not safely carry a minimum 3-ton load.

Clinard said he inspected the bridge himself, along with county Road Department employees and an engineer, and saw no reason it should be closed. He said his requests for additional information apparently prompted the state to look at its initial decision.

“I got a call saying that they had reviewed their decision and the state had made an error,” Clinard said Monday. “They said ‘We’ve taken it off the list and you can use it.’ I appreciate them calling and I appreciate their help with this.”

Clinard said the county was looking at replacing the bridge if the state had insisted it be closed. A new bridge would have cost between $300,000 and $500,000.

“It’s not a small bridge,” Clinard said.

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