Detour Work Set To Begin For Elmore Town Bridge

A detour for the Elmore Town Bridge should be in place by the end of the month.

Putnam County Road Supervisor Randy Jones said Monday he will order supplies Tuesday morning.

“I haven’t bought any supplies to build a detour around it because I was waiting to see if Baxter did de-annex and if the county accepted it back,” Jones said. “I’ll order my pipe tomorrow and probably in the next ten days we should have it installed.”

The Putnam County Commission voted Monday night to accept the bridge and surrounding property after Baxter Aldermen de-annexed it last week. Baxter Mayor John Martin said he’s thankful for the good relationship with the county.

“We are very pleased with the way the commission voted tonight,” Martin said. “I think it’s the best thing for the county and the residents around Elmore Town Road.”

A Tennessee Department of Transportation inspection prevented school buses and other large vehicles from crossing the bridge. At least 17 children had to find new transportation to and from school. The ownership swap allows the bridge repair project to be sped up.

Jones said work to build a completely new bridge won’t begin until later this year.

“The bridge is the hard part and I won’t even think about it until after July because my state aid funding comes in then,” Jones said. “I’ll add that to what I have and hopefully we’ll be getting close to what I think we can put a bridge in for.”

Cost estimates for the new bridge have not been provided.