Ken Lott made it abundantly clear to Allen County commissioners Tuesday morning he thinks brush and other debris wedged against the Marsh Arch bridge over the Neosho River at the east edge of Humboldt is a disaster waiting to happen.
“There are structural concerns,” Lott said, noting state inspections of the concrete span, built in the late 1930s, have dropped in numerical value ratings that past several years.
Humboldt Administrator Cole Herder said recently the conglomeration of trees and limbs had resulted in channels on either side to increase in depth. A concern is that it could lead to severe undercutting on the west bank and perhaps affect the integrity of the the bridge.
The Humboldt bridge and one a mile west of Iola, replaced several years as part of U.S. 54, are the only two means of crossing the river in Allen County.
Lott pointed out any damage of consequence to the Humboldt bridge could result in a long-term burden for farmers living west of town.
“You need to get something done as quickly as possible,” said Lott, a Humboldt resident.
Mitch Garner, director of Public Works, said he had contacted a couple of possible contractors to remove the debris. His department’s equipment is not capable of such a task.
He also has called the Corps of Engineers in Tulsa, which has responsibility for the Neosho, but has yet to receive definitive word on what concerns the federal agency might have. Over the years the answer has been the debris poses no threat to the bridge.
Lott, and many others, are not so sure.
Whatever is done to remove the buildup, won’t occur until the river’s flow recedes. The Corps of Engineers also needs to be on board and not release water from Red Redmond Reservoir while work is being done.
Commissioners signed off on a new ambulance agreement with Iola that, County Counselor Alan Weber said, “isn’t much different from the past.”
They also — with Commissioner Jerry Daniels participating by conference call — agreed to transfer ownership of an ambulance being taken out of service to LaHarpe Rural Fire Department. Among other uses, the ambulance will be made available as a recovery vehicle for firefighters when they become exhausted while on a call.
Bridge debris raises concern
