Hettinger County, Bentley Bridge Replacement

Hettinger County project BRC-2141(001), PCN 22368 consists of the removal of Structure No. 21-141-20.0, the installation of a new 30’-6” x 189’-0” 3-span bridge, and 0.53 miles of roadway realignment 1.2 miles north of Bentley.

Based on recent inspection reports, the bridge required repair to the abutments and piers which would have been cost-prohibitive when compared to a full bridge replacement. Constructed in 1944, the 78-year-old bridge was posted at a reduced load rating of 22 tons, exceeding the expected design life. Significantly wider, the new structure will better accommodate over-width agricultural loads that use this crossing over the Cannonball River in eastern Hettinger County.

The project was designed by Brosz Engineering and bid through the NDDOT construction letting process in May 2022. The successful bidder was Swingen Construction Company out of Grand Forks, ND. The new structure is being installed adjacent to the existing structure to maintain traffic during construction. A two-year construction schedule is allowing the contractor to complete the project and avoid sensitive environmental work limitations.