LaSalle County approves 2026 highway improvement program, maintenance funding and permits

LaSalle County highway department staff presented a 2026 County Highway Improvement Program and related maintenance funding at a county meeting; county officials approved the program and related funding and permits, and introduced a bridge inspection contract.

The improvement program adopted by county officials directs work across resurfacing, chip-seal and microsurface projects, bridge and culvert replacements, and shoulder and gravel work. County staff recommended approval of a utility permit from Comcast to place cable along County Highway 33 in Dimock Township and asked the board to appropriate motor-fuel tax funds to cover maintenance costs for 2026.

The program lists a series of paving and resurfacing projects including a cape seal (chip-seal plus micro) budgeted at $1,200,000 and a proposed microsurface project on County Highway 9 (estimated about $256,000). Resurfacing items include County Highway 21 from 23 to 4 at $1,100,000; County Highway 29 from 18 to County Highway 64 Kingley at just over $1,000,000; widening and engineering work on County Highway 34 (Deepena Road) at $915,000; and resurfacing on County Highway 44 in Leonor at $300,000. The highway department…