HURON – While a decision by Beadle County commissioners on whether to replace a century-old steel bridge in Pearl Creek Township remains on hold, it’s too late for a project to be done this year.
If the work moves forward, a bid letting is unlikely before fall or early winter. Highway Superintendent Merl Hanson told commissioners on Tuesday that he only needs to get the right-of-way process completed and the project would be ready to go.
There has been uncertainty about the future of the bridge – located on 407th Avenue between 215th and 216th streets – for a couple months.
Commissioners had voted to ask the state Department of Transportation to delete the county-owned bridge from the list of bridges scheduled to be replaced with state and county funding.
But in March nearby neighbor Mike Bartholow encouraged the board to no longer pursue state funding, saying there is better use of county funds with other bridges needing attention.
Pearl Creek Township residents Linn and Ken Dickson approached the commission later and asked that the decision be reversed, arguing the bridge is not on a minimum maintenance road.

There had been confusion over that issue because it had been signed as having minimum maintenance.
The bridge has not been condemned, but was damaged by water and ice during 2011 flooding that was supposed to have received federal disaster funding, the Dicksons said.
After their latest meeting with the Dicksons a week ago, commissioners said they wanted to ask township board supervisors for their wishes about a bridge replacement project, and whether they would be willing to maintain the road.
A letter from Pearl Creek Township’s three supervisors, received prior to Tuesday’s meeting, indicated that they have no objections if Beadle County replaces the bridge.
Commissioners said they would have preferred a yes or no response to their inquiry, and decided to invite the supervisors to their next meeting in late May.
Should the project be done, the county’s share of it is expected to be about $80,000.