MURRAY – For the first time in nearly four years, motorists can drive on Old Salem Road from beginning to end after county officials opened the new bridge over Clarks River early this afternoon.
The new bridge replaces one that was originally built in the 1940s on KY 94 W and moved to Old Salem Road in 1976. Instead of tearing down the relic, the county turned it into a fishing pier and added a small parking lot next to it.
In a Facebook post this afternoon, Calloway County Judge-Executive Kenny Imes noted that the new recreational area is compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Imes also asked the public to refrain from driving vehicles of any kind off of the paved areas so as not to damage the freshly sown grass seed.
Solid Waste Coordinator/Floodplain Officer Justin Tidwell said that crews finished installing the guard rails on the approach this morning.
Preparatory work, including environmental studies, started in February. According to county officials, engineering costs alone were around $200,000, considerably higher than most bridge projects, but this particular project was more involved because it crosses Clarks River. Engineers took core samples, soil samples, water samples and water qualification tests. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers also had tests to conduct.
The new bridge deck was placed on May 1. Originally, officials anticipated opening it to the public by Memorial Day; however, Mother Nature had a different plan, delaying completion of the project by more than three months.
The price tag for replacing the bridge was approximately $1.3 million, including $1 million in American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, with balance coming from the auto insurance tax levies recently instated by the Calloway County Fiscal Court.
