The condition of a bridge on SR 257 may have dire effects on two county roads.

Daviess County Highway Superintendent Larry McLin learned recently that the state had put a 12 ton load limit on a bridge about a mile south of the U.S. 50 Bypass on CR 257.

McLin said the state Department of Transportation didn’t like the looks of the short bridge and have plans to replace it. “They called Indianapolis and had them (bridge inspectors) come down. They got underneath and said ‘whoa.’”

INDOT immediately put a 12 ton limit on the bridge late last week and since then the truck traffic has been wreaking havoc on 3-1/4 miles of blacktop on CRs 125E and 300S also known as North-South Donaldson Road and Berry Road.

“The truckers are driving on the county roads and we’ve had calls from the people living on the road and have been out to look at the blacktop,” McLin said. “The roads are built for those trucks. They weigh 15 tons empty.”

McLin isn’t blaming the truckers as there is no warning that the bridge has been flagged with the load limit.

“They get to the bridge and don’t want to take a chance at getting ticketed,” McLin said. They then take the county roads to get around the bridge.

“They’re going to have to go by state highway detours which would begin at Otwell,” McLin said. He has been in contact with INDOT and will be talking with them again today.

“INDOT says its not a heavily traveled route, but its heavy enough to ruin our roads,” he added.

In the mean time, the county is putting a 10-ton limit on the two county roads involved beginning today.

“This is the only one (bridge) I’ve ever seen on a state road with a load limit on it,” McLin said. “I’ve heard of it, but this is the first I’ve seen.