Source: http://www.knoe.com, November 4, 2016
By: Tim Bragg
The Frontage Road bridge in Monroe may be closed for a little while longer. A civil lawsuit has been filed against Denmon Engineering, the company responsible for drawing up the bridge plans.
It’s appears to be an abandoned section of roadway, blocked off by large dirt mounds, now covered in weeds off Interstate 20 near Sam’s Club.
The closing of the Frontage Road bridge is continuing to cause traffic headaches, forcing people to turn around and stick to the main roads, sometimes clogging traffic.
“That whole mess right there by Sam’s, it’s a whole, big mess,” Michael Daines said. “It’s sometimes taken 15 to 20 minutes when [you’re] in rush hour and we’re trying to get through all that traffic.”
Michael Daines can’t wait for the road to reopen, and neither can the I-20 Economic Development board. In late October, they agreed to file a five page lawsuit against Denmon Engineering, citing professional negligence after they brought in a third company to inspect the bridge and found out there were several problems, like cracks in the bridge and drops in the road.
Otis Chisley, the I-20 board president, says the lawsuit is one more step toward fixing the bridge and making sure it’s done right.
“We just want to make sure our interests are protected,” Chisley said.
No one knows for sure when the bridge will be re-opened, but drivers hope the work continues and doesn’t end at a standstill, waiting on a lawsuit.
“I definitely hope they get it fixed,” Daines said.
We talked with Randy Denmon and Denmon Engineering. He says he’s hoping this is settled out of court. Meantime, Otis Chisley, with the I-20 board, says he doesn’t have an exact time for when the road might reopen, but he hopes it’s soon.