Grayson County OKs engineer mapping contract, agrees to state-funded Buckhorn Bridge replacement

Grayson County approved a motion to engage Charlie Allen of the Lincoln Trail Area Development District to map the county's paved roads and later approved a state-sent agreement and resolution for replacement of Buckhorn Bridge.

At the meeting a county official described the mapping work as a way to grade paved roads and produce a database the county can use when applying for discretionary state transportation funds. The official said the mapping would grade roads on a 1-to-10 condition scale and be refreshed every three years. He said the engineer's work would cost approximately $9,000 to $11,000 depending on mileage. "They... said between $9,000 to $11,000 is what it would be," the official said.

Why it matters: county officials said the road mapping will give magistrates and road supervisors an objective, up-to-date list of the county's worst paved roads to prioritize discretionary funding and help the county prepare cost estimates required by the state for funding requests.

Bridge projects: Commissioners approved a state-sent agreement and accompanying resolution to accept a state-led replacement of Buckhorn Bridge. A county official said the state will replace the bridge and that the project is "over half a million dollars" and will require the county to go through a bidding process for contractor work tied to the replacement. The county also discussed Fragrant Road, another bridge application that remains in the pipeline. The official noted county engineering support from Charlie Allen and Lincoln Trail Area Development District on prior permit and drainage work, citing a recent drainage study and a prior drainage permit that cost the county roughly $2,000 when handled in-house.

Lawrence Hayes Road discontinuance: The governing body also authorized two observers to inspect the last 680 feet of Lawrence Hayes Road as part of a petition to discontinue county maintenance of that road segment; county staff said the property owner at the end of the road has acquired surrounding parcels and requested termination of county maintenance for that dead-end spur. The governing body voted to send observers to inspect the road and scheduled a vote at the next meeting on proceeding further.

Ending: Commissioners said the mapping and bridge efforts aim to position the county to win discretionary transportation funds and to prepare bidding and engineering work if the state proceeds with the Buckhorn Bridge replacement.