A “major snafu” is expected to delay construction of the new Rocky Ford Bridge in Emporia, Kansas, according to Lyon County Engineer Wayne Scritchfield.
The issue emerged during the deck pour, when rebar that should be embedded about 2.5 inches below the surface became visible through the concrete, Emporia Gazette reported.
The exact cause remains under investigation. One theory presented to county commissioners suggests the bridge beams may have flexed while the steel reinforcement did not, potentially causing the rebar to buckle, the Lynn County Engineer explained to the County Commission last week.
Next steps include ultrasonic testing to determine the extent of the issue and identify appropriate repair options. The testing process is expected to take 21 days, the Emporia Gazette reported.
County officials are also considering pursing an extended warranty for the affected portion of the bridge, which is being constructed parallel to the existing Rocky Ford Bridge.
The original structure will remain in place but will be closed to vehicular traffic, according to KVOE. The crossing is also known locally as the Bird Bridge, as the site of the Sandra Bird murder in 1983.
First constructed in 1907, the bridge was added to the Kansas Register of Historic Place in 2020, due to its truss design, KVOE reported.
Construction on the new bridge began last fall and was originally scheduled for completion in June, though the timeline may shift depending on the outcome of the investigation, according to KVOE.
The project is estimated to cost just under $2 million, with funding support from a reimbursement grant through the Kansas Department of Transportation.
As part of the project, crews conducted a mussel survey and relocated several hundred mussels from the waterway — none of which were considered endangered, according to the Emporia Gazette.
Sources: Emporia Gazette, KVOE
