Pittsburg County commissioners have taken action which should lead to repairs on the Coal Creek Bridge between McAlester and Tannehill — but it’s still expected to be several weeks before the repair work begins.

County commissioners voted during their regular Monday meeting to approve a programing resolution and a county engineering contract on the structure, which is 2.7 miles south of McAlester Lake.

The resolution calls for repairs to a cracked vertical portion of the east truss and to the bridge’s center span, along with replacing approximately 40 feet of guardrail.

A preliminary report from the Edmond-based Perez Engineering estimates the total cost at $20,000.

In April, the commissioners limited weight on the bridge to three tons after finding the bridge had been damaged — although there have been complaints that the three-ton limit is being ignored by many truckers.

Commissioners said they will have to place an item on next week’s agenda to approve advertising for bids to repair the bridge.

If everything goes as planned, the commissioners expect the bids to come in; one will be accepted and work can be started in several weeks.

“As soon as they do it, we’re hoping it will be a three or four-day job,” said District 3 Commissioner Donald Mathis.

District 2 Commissioner Kevin Smith said the project should be paid for through the County Bridge Improvement Fund.

“It’s coming through as an emergency,” Mathis said.

The structural damage on the bridge which caused the commissioners to place a load limit of three tons on it in the first place appeared to have been caused by a truck or other vehicle hitting a support beam or post just above bridge level, causing it to crack and damaging part of the guardrail.

On another item on Monday’s commisison agenda, the commissioners took action to approve a claim for submission of final plans on the Crowder-Blocker Road bridge project over Lake Eufaula, approximately two miles east and one mile south of Crowder.

The county commissioners approved a payment of $27,600 to Wingfield Engineering for work done on the project. With previous payments totaling $147,200, the latest payment is the final one on a total cost of $174,800 to pay for engineering on that portion of the project.

The portion of Crowder-Blocker Road that passes over Lake Eufaula has long been considered dangerous by many local residents.

The current project is not to repair the bridge.

District 1 Commisisoner Gene Rogers said this phase of the project will be on road work and shoulder work on the county road leading to the bridge. The road work is to extend east for three quarters of a mile.

“That’s the most dangerous part,” Rogers said during a previous meeting, referring to the portion of the road leading to the bridge where parts of the road shoulders are sliding into Lake Eufaula.

Following the commissioners’ action, that portion of the project is ready to be left for bids, according to Rogers.

The first phase, which is part of a larger $11 million project, is estimated to cost $3.8 million — with much of the funding coming from the federal stimulus package. The Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma is also contributing to the project.

On a related item, commissioners also approved a utility and encroachment agreement for the project.

County commissioners also unanimously approved tentative appropriations for the upcoming 2009-2010 county budget for the county’s general fund and for the health department fund.

If needed, the appropriations would allow up to $100,000 to be drawn for the health department fund prior to final approval of the budget, and for $800,000 to be drawn for the general fund prior to the final budget approval.

In other action county commissioners approved a resolution to advertise for two used dump trucks for Pittsburg County District 2.

They also opened a public hearing on plans to establish the Sam’s Point Volunteer Fire Department a county fire department. The distinction will allow volunteer firefighters who meet certain requirements to eventually qualify to collect retirement benefits.

County commissioners also canceled purchase orders which were no longer needed from the Pittsburg County Animal Shelter and from District 3.

Contact James Beaty at jbeaty@mcalesternews.com.