After being closed for traffic for more than a year, the Chunky River Bridge on Griffis Fountain Road in Chunky is on course to be replaced. The Newton County Board of Supervisors on Wednesday approved a project to request federal funds from the Office of State Aid Road Construction to replace the 95-year old bridge. The project to replace the bridge, also locally referred to as Rattlin’ Bridge, will cost $2.5 million.
The bridge was built in 1922 and was closed by state inspectors in November 2015 because of structural concerns. According to a recent State Aid Office’s report, the bridge is the only closed bridge in the county as of June 27. Before it was closed, the bridge had an average daily traffic of 135 vehicles.
The board also approved a $500,00 project to chip seal roads located in Bienville National Forest in southwest Newton County.
The meeting was moved from July 3 to Wednesday because of the Independence Day holiday.
