New information renews Williams Township bridge discussion

 A report from a bridge structure expert renewed the conversation about an out-of-commission bridge in northern Calhoun County.
Calhoun County Engineer Zac Andersen told the Board of Supervisors he had just learned that the bridge in Williams Township, which had been rated to allow traffic weighing up to 10 tons, would now be posted to allow only 3-ton-vehicles, if the bridge reopened with the existing pile supports
“Three tons is pretty much car and pickup traffic,” Andersen said, adding Calhoun and Pocahontas counties could still move ahead with plans to repair the bridge deck, replacing loose planks with newly secured ones.
But, he said, the new rating indicates a severely shortened lifespan for the bridge.
“They’re expecting two years,” Andersen said, explaining that two-year range could mean the bridge could be unusable anywhere between 18 months and four years from now. “Three tons is the last number before you close it.” 
Read more in the Nov. 8 edition.