County residents have nothing to fear in crossing area bridges
BY LELAND ACKER

Cherokee County commissioners say residents have nothing to fear when crossing county bridges, despite a report from the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) listing six of those bridges as being "structurally deficient."

According to a report dated Aug. 15, TxDOT lists bridges which have load capacities less than the state mandated 80,000 pounds, extreme deterioration or damage, or inadequate waterway opening underneath as structurally deficient bridges.

Pct. 2 Commissioner Kevin Pierce, whose precinct has three bridges that made the list, said the information on his precinct is outdated.

Mr. Pierce said the bridge listed as being deficient on County Road 2103 has been replaced.

"There are two bridges on that road, and both have been replaced with concrete bridges," he said. As for the bridge over One Eye Creek on County Road 2107, Mr. Pierce said it was replaced in 2006.

TxDOT's report listed a bridge over One Eye Creek on County Road 2112 as being under construction, which Mr. Pierce said is currently being performed.

Mr. Pierce said the list of structurally deficient bridges is released every two years.

"Texas is a big place," Mr. Pierce said, explaining why some of the information was as much as two years old.

"Bridges have been the main priority since I have been here," Mr. Pierce said, explaining that wooden bridges are being replaced by steel and concrete bridges.

There are two bridges that made the list in Pct. 1, which is supervised by Commissioner Mary Gregg.

"One of those bridges (on County Road 1714) is being rebuilt," Mrs. Gregg said. "The other one, we call it metal bridge, is on County Road 1807. We don't determine that one to be structurally unsound."

Mrs. Gregg said her goal is to replace wooden bridges with concrete bridges throughout her precinct. She said Cherokee County enjoys a good relationship with TxDOT.

"We call them for advice for bridge repairs," she said. "They inspect our bridges every two years."

Mrs. Gregg said the bridges in Cherokee County are in good shape. TxDOT releases a report on structurally deficient bridges every two years.