Douglas County commissioners approved the final piece of funding to replace an aging bridge in the county that is the only access to a few properties.

The project includes construction of a new truss bridge over Washington Creek on North 900 Road, about 1 mile east of the town of Lone Star. It also means destruction of an 80-foot-long truss bridge that was built in the early 1900s.

Last year, a preservation officer with the Kansas State Historical Society contacted county officials about preserving the old bridge on private property after it was replaced, but it was later discovered that the historical society did not have jurisdiction over the bridge.

County commissioners on Monday did not approve spending an additional $18,000 to relocate the old bridge to private property.

Commissioners selected the low construction bid of $114,000 from Midwest Construction Co. Inc. Several weeks ago, commissioners agreed to pay $167,000 for the bridge materials. The total cost of the bridge project — including dismantling the existing bridge, and engineering and other fees — will be $312,000, according to the county’s public works department.