Engineers advise Madison County to pursue planning grant for Judy Lane bridge replacement after MDT inspection lowers sufficiency rating

Great West Engineering presented an inspection summary for the Judy Lane railcar bridge and recommended Madison County pursue planning funds to prepare for eventual replacement.

The presenter said the recent MDT inspection lowered the bridge’s superstructure rating from a 6 to a 5 and produced a structural sufficiency score of 38.9 out of 100, which renders the bridge eligible for certain replacement grant programs. The county was advised to apply for a MSIP (planning) grant so that a preliminary engineering report and updated bridge CIP (capital improvement plan) can be prepared; those planning steps would produce cost estimates and recommendations suitable for a later MSIP construction application.

Staff noted heavy and recurring use on the Judy Lane crossing — including daily semi traffic delivering poles to a nearby treatment facility — and said the bridge is currently rated for 5‑ton loads, prompting concern about repeated overweight crossings. Commissioners asked whether other county bridges have worse sufficiency ratings; the consultant replied that Silver Springs and other bridges currently under active work have among the lower ratings but that a county‑wide updated CIP would identify priorities.

Great West said planning grants and preliminary engineering work should begin now because construction timelines are multi‑year: planning applications in spring 2026 would result in funding decisions the following year, with construction likely in 2028–29. The firm offered to assist with the planning grant application and recommended the board place a resolution on the next regular agenda to authorize pursuit of the planning grant. Commissioners agreed to add the item to the following Tuesday’s agenda for formal authorization.

Next steps: consultant to help update bridge CIP, prepare the MSIP planning application and produce a preliminary engineering report; county to consider formal authorization on the next agenda and to coordinate with MDT on available match funds and timing.