Martin County Commissioners Trying to Find Funding for Bridge Repair

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Martin County’s Commissioners are scrambling to find funding for bridge repair. According to a story in the Washington Times-Herald the Commissioners were told that the costs of repairing the Brooks Bridge, which was built in 1894 would be around $800,000. Also there are issues involved with the bridges historic significance and involving the Army Corps of Engineers. According to the Times-Herald, Martin County applied for Community Crossing Grants to repair three bridges, not including the Brooks Bridge, but all three were turned down. INDOT representatives have told Martin County they are not funding bridges. With other more traveled bridges needing repair, the Martin County Commissioners are faced the option of repairing the Brooks Bridge or closing it and using existing funds to repair more heavily traveled bridges. A 2013 traffic count showed only 107 drivers per day using the Brooks Bridge.