Madison County supervisors hear quarterly updates on major road projects, timelines and costs

Madison County officials heard quarterly presentations from county staff and outside engineering firms on a slate of road and intersection projects, covering survey work, environmental reviews, utility coordination, right-of-way impacts and estimated timelines for design and construction.

The updates, delivered at a Board of Supervisors meeting, explained that several multi-phase projects are in preliminary design or environmental review, that utilities are the primary constraint in many corridors, and that one project — Weisenberger Road — carries a county cost estimate of roughly $18 million to $20 million and faces a complex set of coordination requirements.

The presentations matter because the projects span major travel corridors and will affect commuters, adjacent homeowners and commercial traffic while requiring coordination with state and federal agencies and multiple private utilities. Several projects include planned right-of-way purchases and estimated construction starts in 2026–2027, though presenters warned those dates could shift depending on permitting and utility relocations.

Brad Ingalls, a Stantec consultant, reported on the Calhoun Parkway project, a roughly 2-mile corridor from Stout Road to Highway 22. "To date, we have completed the topographical survey and have collected the field data for the geotechnical report," Ingalls said. He told the board Stantec aims to fit the design within the existing county-owned right of way, which he described as "approximately 125 to 250 foot," and said, "We do not anticipate any utility relocations." The firm expects to finish conceptual design and geotechnical reporting before the next board meeting and said it hopes construction could begin next summer.

Shannon Wells of Garver updated the board on Stribling Road from Highway 463 to DeWeese (Derek DeWeese), reporting completed topographic surveys and wetland delineation and saying the team plans to submit a nationwide permit request to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. "We've completed delineation of the wetlands," Wells said, adding that Fish and Wildlife reported no threatened or endangered species and that the state historic office requested a cultural‑resources survey. Garver is continuing utility outreach and is progressing toward a traffic study and geotechnical reporting; Wells estimated conceptual design work would take roughly a year to 18 months but said she expects that phase will be nearer a year.

Michael Baker consultant Jay Stewart gave the board a first-quarter progress report on the Stribling extension from DeWeese to Catlett Road. Stewart said survey control is about 75–80% complete and that the firm expects conceptual design and the traffic study to begin in the current quarter. He listed an early milestone of conceptual review plans by April 25 and said construction would not likely start until 2027, pending right-of-way and utility coordination.

Keith O'Keefe of Veil Schafer described the Weisenberger Road improvements as the most complex item on the list despite being only about seven‑tenths of a mile. "There are 10 utilities that are going to be impacted by this project — 1 power company, 5 gas companies, 3 telecommunications companies and 1 water," O'Keefe said, and he noted extensive coordination with Canadian National Railroad because the project includes a railroad crossing. He said the team will submit a conditional Letter of Map Revision to FEMA and later a final revision to address floodway and hydraulic modeling. Tim Bridal, the county engineer, told the board the project's cost estimate is "approximately $20,000,000." O'Keefe and Bridal emphasized the project's complexity and the need for state assistance; board members said the county will seek state funding and lobbyist support.

Wagner Engineering (Darren Warren) and Paul Foley (Wagner director of transportation) reported on Yandell Road work, covering two segments being designed together: Highway 51 to Smith Carr (about 1.3 miles) and Smith Carr to North Old Canton (about 1.6 miles). Warren said the team is roughly 5% complete overall and has identified about 12 utility providers within the corridor. Paul Foley provided parcel counts for the corridor: 21 parcels in the Highway 51–Clarkdale segment with eight partially impacted, 41 parcels in the Clarkdale–Smith Carr segment with 13 impacted, and 54 parcels in Smith Carr–North Canton with an estimated 33 impacted. Wagner expects final design to be complete in time to bid the larger Yandell projects for construction beginning in 2027, acknowledging that right-of-way acquisition could take 9–18 months.

Benchmark Engineering and Surveying (Lon Burton) described intersection improvements at Yandell Road and North Old Canton Road. Burton said a signal is proposed at the intersection, bridge‑widening plans will be advanced early, and the LPA (local public agency) portion of the project is being paced to use available federal funds; Benchmark expects to advertise the LPA portion later this year with an 8– to 12‑month construction schedule.

Pickering Firm (Rick Ferguson) and other consultants reported on the two easterly Yandell projects — from North Oakhampton to Bainbridge Crossing and Bainbridge Crossing to Highway 43 — and on coordination with utilities, geotechnical work and right-of-way needs. Hemphill Construction's Reunion Parkway Phase 2 progress was reviewed: contractor work includes curb and gutter, abutments and piling for a bridge over I‑55; county staff said they expect the contractor to complete the work in mid‑2025, though the overpass will not include interstate ramps until MDOT completes a separate, larger interstate‑widening program.

County staff and consultants repeatedly flagged utilities as the critical path in many corridors: several firms reported multiple utility providers marked within project limits and said relocations or agreements with utility owners will drive schedule and possibly cost. Several presenters also described cultural‑resources and wetland work that could add steps to permitting. Board members asked presenters to coordinate communications with affected homeowners' associations and communities and to provide contact information for resident inquiries; county engineer Tim Bridal said residents can call the county engineering office for project updates.

Looking ahead, presenters gave rough timing estimates: several corridor projects are advancing toward 50% or conceptual design in the coming months, with multiple projects estimating construction starts in 2026–2027 depending on permitting, utility relocation, right-of-way acquisition and state funding. MDOT's design for the I‑55 widening and the Reunion Parkway interchange was reported as advanced (about 70% complete) and identified as a state priority; MDOT's project timing and funding will determine when interstate ramps will be built.

The board received the quarterly updates for information and directed staff and consultants to continue coordination with utilities, federal and state agencies, and affected communities. No votes or final decisions were taken at the meeting.