County highway updates: bridge inspection contract awaits INDOT approval; microsurfacing planned for Polk Street

Adams County highway staff updated commissioners on bridge inspection contracting, small-structure inspection cycles and a scheduled microsurfacing project for Polk Street.

Nate (highway) said USI is the county's selected firm for the 2026 bridge inspection contract and that the draft contract and supporting documentation must be approved by the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) before the county may finalize the contract and issue a notice to proceed. Inspections are on a multi-year cycle; bridges are inspected every two years and small structures on a six-year rotation.

Nate explained the county's approach to contracting small-structure work in two-township batches to keep contractors' mobilization nearby and reduce bid prices. He listed local and regional contractors who bid on such work and said heavier work would go to larger firms.

Highway staff also described a microsurface bid from Pavement Solutions to treat the county's portion of Polk Street from State Road 27 north for 200 feet north of Strix Fence at a cost using the firm's earlier bid price of $24,190; staff said the work would be striped and completed before winter to preserve pavement life and permit a full chip-seal next year, funded from routine road maintenance budgets.

Staff noted other operational items: brush and tree clearing (asset-management budget line ~ $6,000 noted in discussion), and the county's evaluation of Federal Highway software to help prioritize bridge rehabilitation work.

Ending: Staff will return with INDOT's approval to finalize the USI inspection contract, schedule the microsurfacing work and continue the small-structure contracting rotation.