Commission approves $3,000 to secure KDOT bridge bid; road and bridge director warns of erosion and rising compliance costs

The Harvey County Board of Commissioners on Aug. 5 authorized a $3,000 county commitment to secure a low bid for an off-system bridge replacement project handled by the Kansas Department of Transportation and heard a multi-part report from Road & Bridge Director Jim about ongoing paving, erosion and new regulatory costs.

The bridge project, listed as project 40C-5283-01, was accepted into KDOT's off-system bridge program. Jim said King Construction was the low bidder at a July 23 bid letting in Topeka and that KDOT is funding the work at 100 percent, with two small nonparticipating items totaling roughly $2,133. The county agreed to round and authorize $3,000 so staff could sign the commitment and secure the low bid before the Aug. 15 deadline.

"I mean, it's okay. $3,000 for a $655,000 bridge is not bad," Jim said, describing his view of the county's nonparticipating exposure for the $655,000 project. The commission approved the county commitment and authorized signatures.

Jim also updated the commission on county road work: APAC is performing an overlay on South Ridge, paving from Sedgwick north to Sixtieth; the department is addressing a notable erosion problem on Southeast Lake Road that followed heavy rain after a recent regrade; and the county purchased straw wattles to pin along the ditch to slow siltation (Jim said they will be pinned about 50 feet apart).

He said a geotechnical firm will take borings this week at a bridge on K-159 (Northwest Twelfth west of Bridal Road) to determine pile sizes and other design data. The firm will close the structure during daytime work hours Thursday and Friday so crews can bore into the ground.

Jim warned of growing inspection and compliance costs. He said updated bridge inspection protocols add many new codes inspectors must assess (he referenced about 54 new codes) and that Harvey County's 283 bridges will increase inspection costs. Separately, he said state requirements to post load-rating signs at bridges have expanded to require advance intersection signs in many cases, which could nearly double sign inventory and add cost; he estimated there is time to plan but named 2028 as a possible compliance target.

Financial notes discussed in the meeting: commissioners approved warrant checks that included a roughly $300,000 payment to Foley for a road grader and other regular quarterly distributions. Jim's report also noted that some culverts have been load-rated and said the county will bring them into compliance with signage where required.

Jim said the department remains short-staffed and is seeking qualified CDL drivers; he noted the cost and logistical challenge of CDL training.

Why it matters: The bridge authorization and the reported compliance changes affect county infrastructure planning and budgets. While the KDOT project is largely state-funded, the $3,000 nonparticipating commitment and new signage and inspection costs will be county budget considerations going forward.

Next steps: County staff will execute the $3,000 commitment to KDOT before the bid deadline, the geotechnical borings will proceed as scheduled, and Road & Bridge staff will assess signage inventory and budget needs for future compliance.