Rural Bridge Near Brown's Memorial Closed After Crash; Replacement Planned

A truss bridge on 1900 Avenue near Brown's Memorial has been closed after being struck by a vehicle earlier in the week, Dickinson County officials reported.

Public works staff said the crash involved a single car that hit the structure, knocking a section of guardrail loose and leaving it hanging by a bolt before the vehicle bounced across and lodged into the south side of the bridge. No one went into the water, officials said. The county is awaiting a letter from an engineer certifying the bridge as unsafe.

The bridge had been rated for only three tons and was limited to light traffic, officials noted. Commissioners and staff said drivers can detour roughly a mile around the closure using nearby roads, which were described as being in good condition. Signs are being posted to warn motorists, particularly visitors leaving the park area who may not know the roads.

Officials said the county had already approved bids in August to replace the bridge, with construction likely to begin next year. The new structure is engineered to straighten the road, removing a dogleg curve, and will be wider to allow vehicles to pass one another. The county also reported it has received appraisals back for right-of-way purchases needed for the project, with negotiations expected the following week.