PHILLIPSPORT � A drainage culvert in Phillipsport has fallen into such a state of disrepair that it could present a hazard to motorists, the Journal has learned. The bridge, which is located on Phillipsport Road just north of the post office, is in such bad shape it prompted a visit by Town of Mamakating Supervisor Robert Fiore.

"If you were to catch a tire [on the edge of the bridge] as you come through here, you would have serious problems," Fiore said.

The bridge in question is what is known as a pre-cast, box culvert, a type of small bridge construction in which a slab straddles two concrete piers. At some point the culvert in question was widened using sections of railroad track as a foundation. Over the years since this widening, the bridge has gradually eroded from the edges inward, exposing the railroad track, several sections of which have slipped off their footings and now rest in the stream bed. It is this erosion of the shoulder that can cause a hazard, as it would be difficult for a motorist to see that there is no shoulder, especially at night or if he or she were unfamiliar with the road.

As to the cause of the bridge's erosion, a neighbor who preferred not to speak on the record stated that new construction at a location further upstream had caused a noticeable increase in water flow through the culvert. Over time, this increase in water flow has apparently caused edges of the bridge to erode inward toward the original concrete slab.

It should be noted, however, that the original construction is still in relatively good shape and that there appears to be no danger of the culvert actually collapsing.

Highway Superintendent Richard Johnson said that until recently he was unaware of any issues regarding this culvert, but, now that it had been brought to his attention, he would be addressing the repair of the bridge just as soon as his department can get to it.

"We're going to take a look at it on Thursday [May 21]," Johnson said.

Some residents of the Town of Mamakating have been critical of the state of infrastructure within the town, and the condition of this bridge will likely spur further discussion. Supervisor Fiore has been working to come up with a new master plan for Mamakating, one which would address the various problems with the roads and other infrastructure within the town.

When asked, Johnson said that the highway department has been overwhelmed in recent years, and that they've been behind schedule ever since the floods in Westbrookville back in 2004.

"We've been pretty busy the last few years, but we're starting to catch up," Johnson said.

As for how, exactly, the highway department intends to address this specific problem, Johnson said that he wanted an engineer to evaluate the bridge before he would announce his plans.

Johnson also stated that the highway department has been stretched thin in recent years, primarily due to the budget situation.

"We try to stretch the dollar as best we can," Johnson said.

Johnson went on to state that Mamakating is not alone when it comes to this kind of infrastructure issue, and there are many local towns that are experiencing the same budget problems.

"We're not the only town that's hurting," Johnson said.

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