By NICK GOSNELL
Hutch Post
SOUTH HUTCHINSON, Kan. — South Hutchinson City Manager Joseph Turner is pleased with recent developments in getting the Scott Blvd. bridge replacement plan underway.
"I'm very happy with the progress that we're making on it," Turner said. "Nobody had any expectation that this bridge was going to be built by the spring of next year. We were talking about some time, maybe in 2023 honestly as a completion date. I feel very fortunate that we're moving along. I'm very happy with the arrangement we have in place with Reno County and Don Brittain. They've been doing great."
As for those dealing with water line replacements on Avenue F, which is the main route the county's trucks have had to take since the bridge's weight limit was reduced, Turner believes they are in a better place now, too.
"If you were to ask a lot of them or talk to them, they'd be pretty grateful at some of the changes that are taking place," Turner said. "They feel like they have a voice within City Hall. It's been nice developing those relationships with those residents, because I think a lot of folks were angry and frustrated because they just felt helpless and powerless to effectuate any change."
The initial engineering agreement on the bridge project was supported by the South Hutchinson City Council on Tuesday, but Turner isn't exactly sure what its final scope will be.
"We still have some potential grant possibilities out there to help alleviate the cost a little bit more," Turner said. "I'm not super optimistic that we're going to be able to get those grants in time, or that this project is going to be eligible or if it's going to make sense for us, but I'm just trying to track down any funding source that might reduce the cost for our taxpayers."
The bridge was initially estimated at $700,000. The hope is at the end of the day to get it done for about half that or a little less.