Wayne Allen

PDT Staff Writer

Scioto County Engineer Craig Opperman has enacted a load limit on a bridge located on Dry Run Road in West Portsmouth.

Opperman said the limits were imposed because the bridge is deteriorating and will need to be replaced in the near future.

“The bridge is located at the 1.11 mile marker on Dry Run Road. The bridge now has a load limit of 20 tons. It’s an older bridge that dates back to the (19)50’s. It’s a concrete bridge that’s beginning to show some deterioration,” Opperman said. “We found this through our normal course of inspections and it was brought back to me. It was then we decided to reduce the limit on it.”

Opperman said crews with the engineer’s office are continuing to examine the bridge.

“The bridge is scheduled for replacement next year possibly,” Opperman said.

He said signs have already posted around the bridge notifying drivers of the reduced load limits.

“There is not a lot of trucks that go through there and smaller trucks can still go through. UPS trucks and vehicles like that can still go through,” Opperman said.

He said the weight limits will remain on the bridge until it can be replaced.

Wayne Allen may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 228, or wallen@heartlandpublications.com.