Published August 29, 2024
With the help of a recent $40,000 grant, the Lake Charles bridge will be replaced in the next few weeks. Differing from the existing bridge, the new one will include a small fishing dock and will be made of a maintenance-free plastic material called polyethylene. [Photo by Lance Ziesch]
On Aug. 14, Dodge City Community College (DC3) was awarded a $40,000 grant to help replace the aging bridge on Lake Charles.
The grant, which is with the Community Fisheries Assistance Program, is through the Kansas Department of Wildlife & Parks (KDWP) and is the largest amount awarded for a single project in the program.
Jared Stevens, DC3 Director of Facilities & Operations, said he first thought about replacing the existing bridge last winter when the lake thawed and revealed a massive amount of wood rot.
“The existing bridge is made of wood and metal with plastic floats,” he said. “Over the years, we at the Facilities Department have done our best to keep up with its maintenance. However, the problems are becoming greater and greater.”
Not only are the wooden portions of the bridge rotting, but Stevens said the expanded metal walkway is rusting, the railings are coming loose, and the plastic floats are taking on water.
“The issues are becoming insurmountable,” he said. “We have repaired what we could, but recently we ended up having to close off a section of the bridge because it isn’t safe to walk on anymore.”
Stevens said the new bridge will be gray and made of polyethylene plastic, a material that will not rot, splinter, or require paint. And it will hold up in all types of weather—including high winds and strong storms—without needing replacement planks or other substitutions.
“The current bridge was first put into the water many, many years ago, and it has been taken out at least two times for repairs,” he said. “The first time was about 15 years ago, and the second was in 2019.”
During the 2019 refurbishment, Stevens said any damaged pieces were repaired or replaced, and the bridge’s color was changed from sky blue to purple and gold.
“It was also decided that this would be the last time it would be taken out and repaired without a complete rebuild,” he said. “The floats underneath the bridge were the deciding factor, as many were starting to take on water even then.”
Approved by the DC3 Board of Trustees on Tuesday, Aug. 27, the new bridge project will cost $58,872.24.
“Of course, the grant will cover $40,000, which is about 68% of the project,” Stevens said. “And the college will pay the remaining $18,872.24.”
The new bridge, which will also feature a small fishing dock, should arrive on campus in about a month. Because it will be made of modular dock sections constructed offsite, it will be assembled by DC3 maintenance staff when it arrives.
“EZ Dock of the Great Plains will prebuild the bridge for us,” he said. “And I’m expecting it to take 3 or 4 days from start to finish for us to put it together and get it in the water.”
DC3 President, Dr. Harold Nolte, said he is excited about the upgrade to the Lake Charles bridge.
“We are incredibly proud of our beautiful campus here at Dodge City Community College,” he said. “And Lake Charles is a huge part of that. It’s an iconic spot for both the campus and our community, and I’m glad we will once again be able to offer people full access to the bridge.”
By Lance ZieschDC3 Director of Marketing and Public Relations