TYLERTOWN — Though funding is dwindling in Jackson, Walthall County supervisors received approval to replace two bridges using Local System Bridge Program money.
MGD Holdings of Bassfield won the contract Wednesday to replace bridges on North Sandifer Street in Tylertown and on Payne Road northwest of town for $669,599, beating out Dozer LLC of Natchez by more than $150,000. The project estimate was about $673,000.
County engineer Jeff Dungan said he had feared the county would not be able to award contracts unless legislators passed the Building Roads, Improving Development, Growing the Economy (BRIDGE) Act quickly. The act would fund LSBP as well as other infrastructure and economic development programs, as well as a slate of earmarks for various projects around the state.
The legislature did not fund LSBP last year.
The bill “would fill out four years of funding,” Dungan said. “If it doesn’t pass, you’re not going to have any money.”
Dungan said provisions in the bill, controversial in some quarters, to give the governor and an advisory board control of some road and bridge funding could work in the county’s favor.
“I think that’s good for you,” Dungan said. “You are good at getting projects ready and submitted on time.”
The engineer told the board that the program for replacing a bridge on Darbun-China Grove Road, which has been closed since it was inspected as part of a federal mandate, has been approved, and agreements on rights of way for the replacement of bridges on May and Old Bethel roads have been reached.
Asked by Supervisor Shelton Stogner when construction could get started on those projects, Dungan said, “We can get started soon if that bill passes. If it doesn’t pass, we can start in the next supervisors term.”
Dungan also told the board that the county had been pre-approved for a grant for improvements at the Paul Pittman Airport, including construction of a new hangar, rehabilitation of both the rotating beacon and the entrance gate, and resealing of the runway.
He recommended that the county make some needed roof repairs on the courthouse that are outside the scope of a grant from the Mississippi Department of Archives and History for painting and repairs in the courthouse.
“That doesn’t really fit into what Archives and History wants to see,” Dungan said.
The board decided to see whether the general escrow fund or some other source might have enough money to cover the cost. The low quote was about $12,200.
The board adjourned without making a decision.
