County board to discuss bridge weight limits
By Terry Murry on Monday, December 13th, 2021 in Columbia Basin News More Top Stories
WALLA WALLA – The Walla Walla County Board of Commissioners meets at 10 a.m. today (Monday) and will consider a resolution setting weight limits on three county bridges as required by the Federal Highway Administration. The National Bridge Inspection Standards require that the load-carrying capacity of each bridge be determined and if deficiencies are found to post weight limits for the bridge.
The resolution going before the commissioners today states additional weight limit changes and postings are anticipated in the future based on a Federal Highway Administration memorandum requiring certain bridges, based on specific criteria, to be load rated. The next deadline for that load rating is December 31, 2022.
“We typically do this update every two years,” Walla Walla County Public Works Director Tony Garcia said.
The Revised Code of Washington (RCW) states the commissioners of each county may by resolution limit or prohibit classes or types of vehicles on any county road or bridge and may limit by weight the vehicles which may travel thereon. Garcia said the three bridges getting updated weight limits are the Grover Bridge on Pickard Road over Dry Hollow Creek, the Hussey Street Bridge over Mill Creek, and the Skyrocket Road Bridge over Whetstone Creek.
Garcia said it will cost the county approximately $1,500 per bridge to install updated signage.
Commissioners will also consider renewing the Everbridge Emergency Notification System agreement for a quote of $24,549 as it has expired. Everbridge is a web-based application that enables the Walla Walla County Emergency Management Department to send alerts and warnings to county residents.
“The state Homeland Security Grant Program pays $14,234 of the $24,549 cost,” Emergency Management Director Liz Jessee said.
Also on the agenda, commissioners will hold a public hearing to consider adopting the 2022 Walla Walla County Budget and consider a resolution adopting the final budget for fiscal year 2022 for the various county funds. The board has resumed in person meetings and continue to host the meetings via WebEx. The access code is 146 784 0290.
