Douglas County commissioners this morning approved an incentive package designed to encourage the Lecompton bridge contractor to finish a repair job early.

The contractor, A.M. Cohron & Son Inc., would receive $10,000 for each day that repairs to the Kansas River bridge at Lecompton were completed enough to allow the bridge to reopen. The incentive would be good for up to 10 days, or a total of $100,000.

The bridge, on Douglas County Route 1029, was closed for redecking a week ago. The county’s contract with Cohron calls for repairs to be “substantially completed” by Aug. 10. Cohron would lose $10,000 per day from the county for each day the bridge is not open past that date.

Commissioners said they were able to offer the incentives because Jefferson County commissioners had changed their majority vote last month and agreed in a 2-1 vote to help Douglas County pay for the bridge repairs. That freed up money for Douglas County to offer the incentives. The cost of the bridge repairs, not including painting the structure, is $2.518 million.

Jefferson County commissioners also were meeting this morning and were to take a final vote on an agreement with Douglas County to help pay for the repairs.