Colbert Commission Meeting: Bridge on Frankfort Road open to traffic

Newly Completed Frankfort Bridge

TUSCUMBIA-During the Colbert County Commission Meeting on Tuesday County Engineer John Bedford announced the re-opening of the bridge on Frankfort Road.

The 121-foot bridge, closed since June, was re-opened at 12 noon on Tuesday.

Bedford tells the Shoals Insider, the project ran over $55,000 due to foundational problems in the underlying bedrock.

“More concrete had to be poured to make the bridge structurally sound,” said Bedford.

The $1.4 million project was funded by a 20/80 percent match with state and local funds.

The bridge was completed early. It was projected to take nine months to complete. Craig Construction of Florence completed the project in a little over six months.

The commission also discussed an energy efficiency study to be conducted by the Siemens Company.

Commissioner Charles Hovater said “We need to make sure this is the most cost effective avenue to pursue, the courthouse should be a priority, because of the substantial loss of energy.”

Commission Chairman David Black discussed the need for Siemens to conduct the study, “Because it would be all-inclusive and not just a piece-meal effort,”

“We need to consider what this is worth and get a good functional deal,” said Commissioner Roger Creekmore.

Also at the meeting, Colbert Sheriff Frank Williamson reported to the commission the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department donated a Chevy Tahoe to be used by his department. “All it needs is striping, to be road-ready,”

“We are also close to having a boat donated to the department for search and rescue,” Williamson added.

In other business, the commission agreed to purchase a table and an advertisement for the Dr. Martin Luther King Unity Breakfast.

-agreed to pay county employee Gloria Johnson annual leave pay of $922.80.

-agreed to a property swap involving land on Hwy 72 and George Wallace Blvd.

Commissioner Emmitt Jimmar was absent due to a family illness.