Sep 21, 2016 2 min read

WAYNESBURG – Greene County commissioners plan to advertise for bids for the demolition of four, old county bridges, hoping the material salvage value alone will cover the costs of their removal.

The commissioners Wednesday approved placing on the agenda for today’s meeting a motion to advertise the removal of the four bridges and the sale of the old bridge materials.

“All of the bridges have been closed for over 10 years at least. This will eliminate the liability of having those structures over the waterways,” county Chief Clerk Jeff Marshall said.

The demolition of old bridges for salvage value was completed successfully by other counties, Marshall said. Bridge materials, including cut stone and steel beams, are salvageable.

“There is real value there,” Marshall said.

Even though the bridges were closed many years ago and no longer lead anywhere, the county has to regularly inspect them and is liable for them, Marshall said.

“We hope this will eliminate our costs and our liability,” he said.

The four bridges are:

• County Bridge No. 1 on Township Route 479 in Franklin Township, an 83-foot bridge over Ten Mile Creek built in 1915.

• County Bridge No. 26 on Township Route 568 in Franklin and Jefferson townships, a 123-foot bridge over Ten Mile Creek built in 1910.

• County Bridge No. 87 on Township Route 659 in Morgan Township, a 159-foot bridge over Ten Mile Creek built in 1902.

• County Bridge No. 92 on Township Route 684 in Cumberland Township, an 87-foot bridge over Muddy Creek built in 1892.

In other business, the commissioner will agree today to accept the donation of a 14-foot “response trailer” from Chevron.

The trailer will include equipment and materials to clean up liquid or chemical leaks, Marshall said. The trailer will be donated to the county Emergency Management Agency and be available to all volunteer fire companies in the county.

The fire companies already were trained in its use, Marshall said.