A project to protect a Carbon County covered bridge is on hold until a specific kind of concrete can be provided.

County commissioners on Thursday announced the delay.The project would install vertical steel bars just before the bridge in Lower Towamensing Township. The bridge has been hit by vehicles several times, resulting in thousands of dollars in damage.Commissioners in August hired Structural Metal Fabricators of Palmerton for $13,637 to install a U-shaped steel beam before the entrances to the bridge.The project was to start soon after, but hit a snag when the engineer called for concrete that could withstand 4,000 psi. The supplier has 3,600 psi concrete, said Commissioner Thomas Gerhard.After spending $304,000 in state funds to refurbish the bridge last year, the county placed wooden "headache bars" several feet in front of the entrance to let drivers know when their vehicles are too high or wide to fit.But there have been two or three incidents this year of vehicles smacking the bars.In other matters, commissioners awarded a contract for a Community Development Block Grant project in Jim Thorpe that will repair sidewalks and replace steps on High Street. The job went to Bognet Inc. of Hazleton for $18,560.All bids were rejected for another CDBG project that would roof and side the Weatherly Area Community Library.Commissioners also opened bids for general construction for six home rehabilitation projects. The Service Team of Lehighton was the sole bidder for all six. Commissioners' Chairman Wayne Nothstein was disappointed that there were no bidders for the plumbing or electrical work.The jobs are identified only by a contract number. The Service Team bids were $23,840, 21,925, $37,578, $12,179, $15,225 and $8,640.Commissioners tabled the bids for two weeks for review.Also on Thursday, commissioners entered into a five-year grant agreement between the Carbon-Monroe-Pike county commissioners and the state Department of Health, Bureau of Drug & Alcohol Programs, from July 1 through June 30, 2020.In a retirement board meeting following the commissioners regular public meeting, representatives of three financial firms offered reports.They were John Thompson of Emerald Advisors, an investment firm; Mike Shone of The Peirce Park Group, a pension management consultant, and Hank Stiehl of The Hay Group, an actuarial firm.