Tippah River bridge now open

An $11 million project to replace two bridges on Bethlehem Road drew lots of attention Oct. 28, with some 30 plus individuals enjoying beautiful fall weather and beautiful countryside at the official opening of the Tippah River Bridge.

The 1,200 foot bridge was raised about 4 feet higher than the old bridge, using funds from the ERBR (Emergency Road and Bridge Program) program.

The Tippah River Bridge, which is earthquake proof, cost $7.5 million. The “Goat Bridge” located about three miles west of this bridge on Bethlehem Road will cost about $3.5 to $4 million to build, according to county engineer Larry Britt.

He said the county has just finished making arrangements for the acquisition of the right-of-way for the Goat Bridge.

Britt provided the statistics for the project:

• the new bridge was raised about four feet above the level of the old bridge, which was replaced because the pilings had rotted.

• the bridge was closed to traffic in March of 2018.

• funding was obtained from the ERBR program in 2019.

• bids for construction were taken twice, first in March 2020 and again in March 2021, the second bid for the project in the ERBR 2019 program.

• additional funding was needed and secured from the ERBR program in 2022 as an $11 million project that included replacing two bridges on Bethlehem Road.

The Tippah River was dredged in 1967 at the bridge location, according to Justin Hall, executive director of the Marshall County Industrial Development Authority.

He said the bridges are on the thoroughfare for folk cutting through the river bottom to go to Potts Camp or to Waterford.

“We would put in at Whaley Road and float down the river and you stop here,” said District 5 supervisor Ronnie O’Neil Bennett.

The river is important for hunting and fishing. The bridge also saw in it’s day many young men drag racing over the bridge, Hall said.