Highway staff outline project updates; committee approves five-year road improvement plan

Highway staff reported several project developments at the March 12 meeting: the county received a previously allocated $1,000,000 reimbursement for the County Road B project; an STP-funded section of County Road D will begin tree-clearing in advance of an anticipated May construction start; and a bridge project at Flaton Creek arrived over budget, leaving the county responsible for about 20% of an approximately $140,000 shortfall (staff estimated roughly $28,000).

Staff also described right-of-way challenges on a County Road D widening project that needs 18 parcels; five closings are complete, several property owners are negotiating, and staff said condemnation would be a last resort if agreements cannot be reached. A timber-deck replacement at Lambs Creek Bridge was described as an in-house construction candidate using a contractor (Wheeler Construction) for timber components; staff estimated an approximate 16-week lead time.

Committee members approved the department’s five-year improvement plan, which lays out priorities for rehabilitating roads rated in poor condition and anticipates a target annual program roughly consistent with current levy and borrowing assumptions. Staff described typical unit costs to guide decisions: overlays, pulverize-and-replace, and full reconstruction all vary by depth and traffic (staff cited approximate per-mile ranges in discussion). The plan will serve as a basis for pursuing state and federal safety grants for road widening, intersection work and other safety-focused upgrades.