June 19, 2023 |
Photo – Bridge behind Saratoga Hot Springs Resort – by Matt Copeland Bigfoot99
WYDOT will replace a bridge in Saratoga for free. At the June 6th town council meeting, Mayor Chuck Davis said WYDOT had discovered faults on a small bridge in the neighborhood behind the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort. Mayor Davis said WYDOT decreased the maximum weight the bridge into the golf course could safely handle.
Mayor Davis said the lower weight limit prohibits fire trucks from accessing the area without crossing the North Platte River. The mayor said the high river level makes it impossible to get trucks into the neighborhood.
Mayor Davis said no one knew for sure if the town officially owned the bridge or not. Records indicate the bridge was still part of the Saratoga Hot Springs Resort. Mayor Davis said former mayor Creed James discovered evidence saying the bridge was turned over to the town in the mid-1980’s.
Despite this evidence, actual ownership of the bridge is still unknown officially. Mayor Davis said he sent the information to the Wyoming Department of Transportation, and the matter is under review. The mayor said WYDOT offered to replace the bridge at no cost to the town. However, he said the town would be responsible for its maintenance.
Mayor Davis said he told WYDOT he was interested in the deal, but he needed the support of the town council before any action could be taken. Councilman Mike Cooley said he supported the project since it wouldn’t cost the town anything. Councilman Jacob Fluty asked if the town would be required to proceed with WYDOT’s plan. Mayor Davis said the project was too early in development for the town to be locked into anything. The mayor said he wanted to see more of the plan before making a final decision.
The council voted to move forward with the WYDOT bridge replacement plan.
Bigfoot99 asked Mayor Davis if the project has made any progress since June 6th. The mayor said WYDOT still wasn’t convinced the town owns the bridge.
The mayor said more work needed to be done to ensure the Saratoga Hot Springs golf course bridge was legally owned by the town.
