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Keith County outlines Paxton siphon repair, says contractor delay likely to push work into November
Summary
County engineering staff told commissioners Simon's Contracting will start Paxton siphon repairs around Nov. 13 after finishing other work; the north river crossing will be closed for about three weeks and the county will notify local landowners and Paxton Fire Department.
Keith County engineering staff told the Board of Commissioners that planned repairs to the Paxton siphon — a county canal crossing east of Highway 80 — are expected to begin in mid-November after the contractor completes delayed work elsewhere.
"I'm Josh Staab. I'm the engineering specialist in charge of this project," Staab said, explaining that Simon's Contracting, the awarded contractor, is finishing bridge work and anticipates starting around Nov. 13. He summarized the repair as installing a foot-thick concrete cap roughly 24 by 32 feet over deteriorated siphon cover and then re‑covering and grading the road.
The county and contractor are coordinating timing to avoid peak harvest traffic. Commissioners said they will attempt to shift the schedule if possible but acknowledged the contractor preferred later dates. Staff said they will notify roughly 10 property owners, the Paxton Fire Department and other local responders ahead of work.
Commissioners and staff described traffic and safety measures: the river-side (north) crossing will need to be closed while work is underway, while the south road will remain available for local traffic. "Cure time is the problem," Staab said; staff estimated a concrete cure period of about 10 days and a total closure window of roughly three weeks for the most intensive work.
The county will pay for gravel and perform final grading after the contractor completes pours and curing. Commissioners asked staff to keep the board updated as contractor scheduling firms up and to document communications to affected residents.
What happens next: staff will confirm final start dates with Simon's Contracting and circulate notices to affected landowners and emergency services prior to closing the north crossing.
