Study planned for Cole County bridges

The Cole County Commission is dedicating $15,000 to study how county bridges can be maintained at the safest and most cost-effective way possible.

Commissioners say they want to make sure the bridges are not only safe and strong for these upcoming winter months, but also for the long-term.

That five-year plan will include nearly 100 bridges in the county.

The commission hired Jefferson City-based Volker Inc. to come up with ways to keep bridges safe for the long-term.

Something known to shorten the life of bridges are the chemicals that are put down to prevent cars from sliding on icy roads.

Commissioners say they have to use the chemicals for the safety of drivers, but they want to know how to do so in a way that is least harmful to the bridge.

“There are chemicals on there that would infiltrate the concrete and erode any metal. So we want to go ahead and seal those things up so the chemicals can’t get down into the bridge,” said commissioner Chris Scheperle.

The money for this study will come from a half-cent county sales tax.