BROOKHAVEN — Work to complete a project to a bridge on Auburn Road began nearly three years ago and yet no further progress has been made. County Engineer Ryan Holmes gave an update to the Lincoln County board of supervisors Monday morning in a regularly scheduled meeting. 

District 4 supervisor Eddie Brown asked about the status of the project following a long list of updates on projects around the county. Holmes said nothing has budged on the project due to an audit report. 

“So we are hung up on a bridge we have worked on for two years to get ready and they want an audit report? Never have we ever had to have an audit report on a bridge.” Brown said. 

Lincoln County Administrator Daniel Calcote said the audit was required because it dealt with federal funding in the Emergency Road and Bridge repair act. Holmes said Lincoln County is not the only county in the same boat, waiting on an audit to get started on work. 

Bridge rehab projects on Elzey, Pillars, Albrighton and Oak Wood roads are not likely to be completed any time soon. Holmes said at the meeting he and construction company NL Carlson looked at the Elzey Bridge on May 4 to get a quote on how much it would cost to get work done. 

NL Carlson gave him a quote over $200,000 for a simple rehabbing project with lifting the bridge and replacing the pylons on Elzey alone. Their quote was well over what Holmes could do and the county might have to advertise the projects, he said. 

“We are really feeling the effects of not having a local bridge guy,” Holmes said. 

A bridge project on Pleasant Ridge Northwest is nearing completion but has been held up by weather. Lincoln County has received 2.43 inches of rain this month which has slowed progress. Holmes said if they can get good weather over the coming weeks the dirt work should be done soon. 

The bridge on Brignall Road will soon reopen as Holmes told supervisor Jerry Wilson the final inspection has been set for June 1.

Holmes said he was told Mississippi’s list of bridge projects to be completed using $100 million of ERBR funding should be released by July 1 at a meeting last week. Bridge projects on Lott Smith Road, Mt. Zion Road, Bethel Road and Shady Grove are the eligible projects for the newest round of ERBR funding.