Linn County roads report: bridges rated ‘poor’ at 6.3% as projects aim to cut that number

Assistant Engineer Garrett Reddish told the Linn County Board of Supervisors the road department is making progress on major performance measures but has work to do on bridges.

“Our bridges are around 6.3% classified as poor,” Reddish said, noting the department’s target is 5% or less. He said seven or eight projects planned this fall into next year could, if completed in 2026 as scheduled, bring the county’s poor‑bridge percentage down to about 3.5%.

Reddish said the county’s pavement condition index sits at 76.5, above the department goal of 70, and the department is prioritizing preventative maintenance and patching to extend pavement life. On response metrics, he reported a first‑response rate of 88% against a 90% target and described the latter as a high bar the office continues to chase.

On capital projects, Reddish reported the new road‑department headquarters is roughly 57% paid under contract with Larson and about 60% complete. He said the original water main from the City of Marion to the headquarters is complete; connections to the emergency management building are stubbed out and additional connections to Linn County Conservation and the landfill are under extra work orders expected to finish within about a month to six weeks.

Reddish said the road agreement with QTS data centers is in the final stages and expected to be signed soon, and staff are also finalizing a long‑term agreement with Wendland’s quarry to preserve access and formalize haul‑route maintenance contributions.

He listed completed and upcoming projects: the Abbotts Ford Road and Enos Way assessment district project is complete; the Dows development’s three public roads were formally accepted into the county system and will receive winter plowing; bridge projects on Covington Road (south of Alice) and on North Center Point Road are load‑posted and expected to wrap in early to mid‑November; and a Massil Park Road bridge is slated to start in early November with alternate park access during construction.

Reddish also described routine vegetation management and tree agreements that allow property owners to retain trees in the right of way if they accept responsibility for cleanup and hazards, while crews remove vegetation where there is an immediate safety concern to improve visibility and reduce risk.

The board did not take formal action on any item in the road department update; Reddish took questions and clarified schedules and contracts. He confirmed a recently accepted assistant‑engineer hire is expected to start in early November and the senior‑mechanic vacancy remains posted.