30 Jun Adams County Bridge Update
The Odessa Ground Water Replacement Program is transferring deep well irrigators from the depleting Odessa Aquifer to more reliable Columbia Basin Project surface water. The project includes expanding the width of canals to increase delivery capacity. When canal widths increase, the bridges that cross the canals need to be replaced or eliminated. 10 bridges have been identified for replacement by the engineering firm of Nicholls Kovich, eight of them in Adams County. The county has secured a construction estimate of about $26 million.
Final cost estimates rose to about twice as much per bridge as the original projections. Next steps include securing funding, both through federal and state sources.