Sparta officials closed the city’s walking bridge Thursday night after deteriorating and vandalized timbers created safety concerns.
Sparta Public Works Director Dillard Quick said the bridge was closed after multiple support timbers were found damaged or missing. Quick said the city replaced the timbers about seven years ago, but conditions have worsened in recent months.
“We closed the bridge because the timbers are bad,” Quick said. “We’ve had a lot of vandalism. Those timbers don’t just fall out, they’re 150 pounds apiece. But we replaced those timbers about seven years ago, and we’ve had to replace several because they’re rotted or they’ve been kicked out by kids or whatever, but there’s so many of them down through there that need to be replaced. I thought it was best just to close the bridge.”
Quick said the city contracted with an engineer last year to develop plans for a concrete surface. Quick said the engineer is expected to provide a cost analysis as part of that plan, but rising material prices will affect the final estimate.
“Years ago you’d get concrete for $50, $60 a yard and now it’s, you know, close to $200 a yard, and that being on a bridge, it’s gonna be a little more expensive because of where it is and the precautions for safety. So, but right now we’ve got it closed, and I’m gonna try to call Bob again in the morning. I tried to call him today, didn’t get him, and see where we are as far as getting those plans and see what avenue we’re gonna go with.”
An alderman asked whether the bridge could remain closed five to six months, and Quick said that is possible. Quick said a temporary repair using new timbers would not last long and may not be the best use of funds.
“They’re literally—if y’all don’t know, me and Tonya walked it the other day looking and some of it’s in bad shape,” Sparta Mayor Jerry Lowery said. “You probably see it a lot. People are—I don’t know who’s doing it, but they’re taking… you gotta work to take them big railroad timbers out of off of that. You gotta work. It’s not just go do it. They’re taking them out and leaving gaps. A small child could fall through there and into the river. And they don’t tell nobody, and then we get a report that. And we don’t know how to stop that other than try to find cameras or start prosecuting them,”
Quick said the bridge received new boards, cables, and handrails during the last major repair. Quick said treated lumber does not appear to last as long as it once did.