By Staff
Staff reports
Appleton Road will be closed at the beginning of the new year to make way for bridge work that has been in the works for quite some time.
Newell &Bush, Inc., based out of Mt. Miegs, Ala., will begin to fix the Big Juniper Creek Bridge on Monday, Jan. 2. Workers have been busy prior to the start date replacing utility lines.
County Engineer Bill Bridges had stated earlier in the year that he had contacted state officials to obtain a temporary bridge but was told there were none available.
A grant from the Alabama Department of Transportation will help fund the project, which is estimated to cost around $500,000 and is expected to take two to three months to complete.
Residents who must cross the Big Juniper Creek Bridge are advised to follow detour routes.
Residents north of the bridge will need to detour by traveling east on Mason Mill Pond Road over to Hwy. 31, which proceeds into Brewton. Bridges said that the detour will be about 3.5 miles for most residents, However, those residents living directly near the bridge will have a detour from 3.5 miles to 9.5 miles, with only one resident having the maximum 9.5 mile detour.
Local residents also have the option to use Petty Road and McGougin Road as a detour.