SEMDC Executive Director Jim Atchison, along with SEMDC Community Services Director Julie Emmons Stoddard (pictured at left and right, respectively, above) present a "big check" for 7 million dollars to Powder River County Commissioners Rod Schaffer, Lee Randall, and Donna Giacometto. The funds will be used to replace bridges and fix roads in PR County which were damaged in 2019. (Photo courtesy Julie Emmons Stoddard)
In the Examiner file photo of the Moorhead Bridge shown above, leaning and settling of the nearest pillar has caused a noticeable "sag" in the bridge, resulting in unsafe conditions for travel over the bridge, and prompting the September 2019 closure. Funds from the recently awarded grants will go to replace the Moorhead Bridge, as well as the Little Powder, Pilgrim Creek, and Horse Creek Bridges.
Funding has come through to help replace the Moorhead, Little Powder River, Pilgrim Creek, and Horse Creek bridges and resurface 18.1 miles of Powder River East Road. The seven million dollar grant was awarded by the Economic Development Administration, a federal agency in the US Department of Commerce which works to provide grants and technical assistance to economically distressed communities.
The seven million dollar grant comes on the heels of a $750,000 grant from the MT Dept of Commerce, through the DLA or Delivering Local Assistance Program.
These grants combine for around 89% of the expected $8,750,000 cost of replacing the damaged bridges and roads, with the county contributing around a million dollars to complete the projects.
Damage to the bridges occurred during the historic rainfall and flooding in 2019. In late September of 2019, the MT Dept of Transportation found the Moorhead Bridge south of Broadus to be structurally unstable due to settling of the bridge piers, and the bridge was subsequently closed, and remains closed to this day. The bridge closure creates a great deal of turmoil for local ranchers, who used the bridge to travel to their property on the other side of the river, as well as increasing travel time for emergency personnel and mail carriers, who now have to come down the river to Broadus to cross the Powder River.
The grants are a result of the collaboration between PR County officials, Southeastern Montana Development Corporation or SEMDC, and Great West Engineering.
In a press release, SEMDC Community Services Director Julie Emmons Stoddard stated, "Powder River County experienced unprecedented flooding in 2019 and had disastrous impacts to infrastructure including roads and bridges. This caused a large disruption in economic activity. The disaster funding from EDA will assist in establishing resiliency for businesses and residents of the area."
Great West Engineering has begun the task of analyzing the Moorhead Bridge, with the goal of installing a modular bridge design. Julie tells us that the timeline for construction will be dependent on permitting and demolition, which will likely push completion of the bridge into 2021, especially with the potential for winter conditions looming in the coming months.
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