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Roads update: bridges, chip seal and search for used truck parts to stretch budget
Summary
County roads staff outlined major projects for the coming construction season (Libertyville Road bridge, chip-seal in May, multiple bridge replacements) and described efforts to buy used Sterling truck parts from Greene County to avoid high replacement costs.
Roads staff told supervisors the coming construction season will focus on contracted bridge work and a chip-seal program. Items highlighted included a Libertyville Road bridge under contract, a scheduled chip‑seal program beginning in May, and a number of bridge replacements including a 6‑ton structure in the northeast county.
Because large equipment purchases are costly (staff cited $250,000–$500,000 as typical replacement costs for heavy trucks), the department is pursuing lower-cost options: outreach to Greene County for used Sterling truck parts and parts-vehicles and a plan for local mechanics to evaluate salvageability. The roads superintendent said standard maintenance costs run roughly $15,000–$25,000 annually for certain equipment and that incremental maintenance is still more cost-effective than replacing a vehicle every seven years.
Board members also directed staff to obtain survey quotes needed for the chip-seal project and to get multiple bids on bridge inspections and work. The county will include these line items in upcoming budget discussions and expects most construction to be contracted work rather than in-house builds.
