City repaves bridge to avoid weight restriction

The City of Hartselle is resurfacing the asphalt on the Thompson Road bridge over the CSX railroad to avoid having a weight limit posted on the bridge.

Mayor Dwight Tankersley said the Alabama Department of Transportation recently inspected the overpass, which serves Hartselle-Morgan County Industrial Park. The inspection revealed that the city would be required to put a 36-ton limit on the bridge because of the additional weight of the asphalt.

To correct the problem, the city is clearing the current 3-inch layer from the bridge and replacing it with a 1 1/2-inch coating of asphalt.

“We were told that the bridge could only have up to 2 inches of asphalt on the bridge to avoid posting a weight limit on the bridge,” Tankersley said. “Otherwise, we’d have to post the weight limit. Because our industrial park is located there, we don’t need to have a weight limit for that bridge.”

Tankersley said the 36-ton limit wouldn’t stop all 18-wheelers from crossing over the bridge, but he said it would restrict fully loaded tractor-trailers.

Tankersley said the resurfacing project, which is being handled by Reed Construction, should be complete by the end of the week weather permitting.