Blount County Budget Committee to discuss funding for Binfield Road bridge
By Joel Davisjoeld@thedailytimes.com
Originally published: November 07. 2009 3:01AM
Last modified: November 07. 2009 12:34AM
The Binfield Road bridge, closed since March 2008, will be slated for repairs if the Blount County Budget Committee takes action Monday.
The Budget Committee will consider approving funding to repair the closed bridge. The money comes from $82,500 in grants from CSX.
“I’m waiting on approval from CSX,” said county Highway Superintendent Bill Dunlap. “My drawings are down there now on what we’re going to do to repair the bridge to get it open.
“It’s basically day to day when I hear from them; we have received our check for $75,000, I’ve got another check coming from CSX for $7,500 for a crossing that we’ve closed that is no longer being used. That will all go into bridge repair. We are ready to go. We’ve got a contractor in place. Carico was the low bid on it.
“Probably a month,” he said. “Probably a month. It won’t be long.”
The bridge spans the CSX railroad track on Benfield Road. CSX had indicated it wants to abandon the bridge, but the Blount County Commission requested that the railroad repair it.
The committee will also:
— Discuss the county school board’s $12.8 million appropriation request to build, furnish and equip the proposed Prospect Elementary School on Burnett Station Road.
— Consider accepting a $1.2 million grant to fund H1N1 flu vaccinations. The Blount County Health Department last held a H1N1 vaccination clinic on Oct. 24.
— Consider accepting a $50,000 grant for a new case manager for the Blount County Drug Court — an 18-month program for non-violent drug offenders that meet certain criteria.
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