Sedgwick County is moving ahead with plans to repair a major traffic bridge near Derby. The bridge over the Arkansas River on 63rd Street South is considered a major route between Wichita and Derby.
The county’s public works director, Jim Weber, said a study found deterioration in the concrete structure on the north side of the bridge. The north half of the bridge was closed, but the south half is still open, reducing traffic from four lanes to two.
Weber said the market for construction activity has been slowed down and it will take time to get repairs scheduled. He said a project can be done in the fall at a cost of $135,000, with work starting in September. The bridge will have to be completely closed for the work to be done, and it will take about three months to complete the project.
Commissioner Jim Howell says he’s not happy about the timeline, but the county will save money on the cost of the project compared to other options that were considered. He said he has heard concerns from Derby area residents about the partial closing of the bridge. The bridge has around 11,000 vehicles per day.
