By MIKE COURSON
Great Bend Post
Eight years ago, Barton County began a 10-year, federally mandated bridge rating program through the Kansas Department of Transportation. Tuesday morning, County Engineer Barry McManaman updated commissioners about the latest round of ratings.
"Out of 372 bridges we have in the county, they took a look at 33 of them this year," he said. "That brings us up to 247 total that have been looked at for load ratings."
Off-system bridge No. 86, located a few miles southwest of Heizer on Northwest 80 Avenue, was the only bridge to require new signage this year. Commissioner Donna Zimmerman asked McManaman if local first responders are notified of changes.
"What I've done in the past is I'll send a letter or email to the fire chiefs that are affected," McManaman said. "We keep them up to date so they can do planning. Luckily, a lot of these bridges are in rural areas and they can avoid them."
Bridge No. 86 is now one of 18 bridges in the county to have a sign for emergency vehicle weight limits. Twelve more bridges in the county have signs for trucks only, and four bridges include both types of signs.