WOOD RIVER, Neb. — Four Central Nebraska bridges in two counties will soon be repaired or removed thanks to help from state funds.

Two bridges in Hall County and two in Dawson County were among the 13 bridges selected for funding in the seventh round of Nebraska’s County Bridge Match Program. The selections were made out of proposals including 148 bridges across 48 counties.

The two bridges in Hall County both cross the Wood River. The county is receiving $27,500 towards a $50,000 project to remove a “fracture critical” bridge on a minimum maintenance road three miles west of Alda. The bridge is on W Guenther Rd. Immediately west of Highway 30. In the proposal documents, county officials say they will remove the bridge and slope back the banks of river, helping to eliminate a bottleneck downstream of the City of Wood River. 

Hall County also received $250,000 towards an $866,000 project to replace a bridge near Wood River High School. The bridge is on Wood River Road immediately west of Highway 11. The proposal documents say the current bridge will be replaced with a single span prestressed concrete girder bridge. The bridge is on a school bus route and a mail route. County officials hope replacing it will greatly reduce future maintenance costs.

Dawson County received $250,000 to use for a $456,750 project on the Elm Creek. Contract workers will replace a steel girder and floorbeam system with a concrete box culvert. The bridge is 3.5 miles east and five miles north of Overton.

Dawson County is also receiving $50,000 towards a $194,350 project. A timber bridge will be replaced by a concrete box culvert. The bridge is 3.5 miles south of Darr on an unnamed stream. Dawson County officials expect the box culverts to need minimal upkeep and carry more weight than the current structures.