Jasper declares emergency to repair Blackwell Dairy Road after culvert failure

Mayor Josh Gates told the Jasper City Council the city is declaring a state of emergency to repair Blackwell Dairy Road after engineering assessments found steel culverts beneath the road have begun to fail.

Gates said repeated patching revealed the culverts were compromised and that recent inspections determined the road presented an “imminent risk of collapse,” a danger for ambulance, school bus and regular residential traffic. The mayor asked the council to allow the city to bypass the normal, lengthier bidding process so crews can begin work immediately.

The council adopted a resolution authorizing an emergency declaration that, according to Gates, will allow the city to hire a contractor more quickly to install poured-in-place concrete box culverts and widen the roadway. Gates cautioned that widening the road introduces environmental permitting and review requirements that staff will update over the coming weeks and months.

“We're not just going to patch it. We're actually going to pour in place concrete, do concrete box culverts there,” Gates said, describing the scope of repairs and adding that engineering and design work are being finalized and some bidding has already begun. He also urged patience, saying reopening could take “several weeks” or “a couple months” as work proceeds and paperwork is completed.

The mayor thanked the street department for preparatory work at the creek bed and said water levels have been lowered to facilitate construction. A council member noted that E-911 has routing plans to reach addresses affected by the closure.

The council voted to adopt the emergency declaration by unanimous voice vote, allowing the city to proceed with expedited contracting and repairs.

Next steps: city staff will finalize contractor selection and begin construction work as soon as feasible; environmental filings and any remaining permitting will continue in parallel.