County bridge approved for federal reimbursement

October 13, 2011 at 10:34 p.m. | Updated October 13, 2011 at 10:34 p.m.

Sam Gaines, owner of Sam Gaines Construction Co. of New Bloomfield, Thursday explains the support system for a county bridge his firm built to federal specifications over Hillers Creek, about two miles east of New Bloomfield. The bridge on County Road 436 Thursday passed a final inspection by county and state officials.
Sam Gaines, owner of Sam Gaines Construction Co. of New Bloomfield, Thursday explains the support system for a county bridge his firm built to federal specifications over Hillers Creek, about two miles east of New Bloomfield. The bridge on County Road 436 Thursday passed a final inspection by county and state officials.

A contract for a newly constructed $315,000 Callaway County bridge built to federal specifications was approved Thursday by state and county inspectors.

The 120-foot by 28-foot concrete steel reinforced bridge is located over Hillers Creek along County Road 436, two miles east of New Bloomfield.

The low-bidding general contractor for the project was Sam Gaines Construction Co. of New Bloomfield.

Those attending Thursday's event included Gary Jungermann, Callaway County presiding commissioner; Gabe Craighead, eastern district commissioner; Sam Gaines of New Bloomfield, general contractor for the project; Paul Winkelmann, Callaway County Road and Bridge administrator and engineer; Mitchell Fletcher, Callaway County bridge inspector; and Roger E. Waltemath of McDonald & Warger, Inc., the consulting engineering firm in Liberty, Mo., that designed the bridge to meet federal specifications.

To help the tornado-stricken people of Dumas and surroundings, donations can be made to the Delta Area Disaster Relief Fund, care of the Delta Area Community Foundation, P.O. Box 894, Dumas, AR, 71639, or through the Arkansas Community Foundation, 700 S. Rock St., Little Rock, AR, 72202.