Counties to replace troubled bridge over water

Jefferson, Gallatin and Broadwater counties have committed funds to replace Meridian Bridge, a 107-year-old single-lane truss bridge at the junction of the counties and whose load limit is currently 2 tons per axle—the lowest rating before a bridge is deemed impassible, according to Jefferson County Commissioner Cory Kirsch.

Meridian Bridge straddles the Jefferson River in the far southeast corner of Jefferson County, with its northern half in Jefferson County and its southern half in Gallatin County. The bridge is a few hundred feet from the southwest corner of Broadwater County. The bridge provides quick access to the town of Willow Creek—in Gallatin County—from U.S. Route 287 in Jefferson and Broadwater counties.

Due to the light load limit on the bridge, large agricultural trucks and emergency vehicles cannot cross the bridge, Kirsch said. A portion of Jefferson County receives emergency services from Willow Creek, he said. Several ranches and the Highlander Park subdivision are directly across the bridge from Willow Creek.