A structure known to residents of the Chunky community as the “Old Rattling Bridge” has been closed indefinitely due to structural concerns.

    Newton County District 5 Supervisor Jimmy Johnson said the bridge on Griffis-Fountain Road was deemed unsafe by the Office of State Aid of Road Construction (OSARC), which closed the pathway Nov. 20.

    “They came in and inspected the bridge and said it had loose braces on it; but they have been loose on it for about 30 years,” Johnson said. “I reworked the bridge last year, and we just had an inspection. I think it is more sound than it has been in years.”

    Johnson said it would cost about $3 million to replace the bridge.

    “I tried at one time to get the (Mississippi) Historical Society to help on it, and also tried to get state aid to give us the funds,” he said. “But they came and looked and said it wasn’t enough traffic on it to replace the bridge.”

    Three families live on Griffis-Fountain Road.

    “They have a paved road on the other end and will be able to get out that way,” Johnson said.

    Johnson said county workers put up barricades Nov. 23.

    “I didn’t want to have to close it, but when OSARC says you have to, you don’t have any other choice,” he said. “They don’t want anyone to get hurt if something were to happen.”

    According to the Mississippi Office of State Aid Road Construction website, the bridge was built in 1922. The office rated the bridge’s deck at a 5 (fair condition), superstructure at a 4 (poor condition) and substructure rating at a 5 (fair condition).