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County highway superintendent outlines major summer projects and warns of salt supply challenges
Summary
Superintendent Scott briefed the committee on Route 61 bridge and slide work, culvert and slope-stabilization projects, a planned May 9 shred event, and ongoing regional salt supply disruptions affecting winter operations.
County Highway Superintendent Scott gave a wide-ranging briefing on the coming construction season, highlighting an award recommendation for Route 61 (bridge and slide work), multiple slope-stabilization contracts and concerns about material and seasonal constraints.
Scott told the committee the Route 61 project will include both the slide remediation and the bridge work and that the county expects construction this season with staged sequencing to keep lanes open where possible. "It's going to be all summer," he said, and explained some elements will be sequenced so the slide work precedes bridge work.
On slope stabilization and sidewalk repair (Group 23B), Scott said bids produced a low of about $2.274 million (Gallow Construction) and a high near $2.697 million, and the county is coordinating staging and right-of-way clearances with DOT and landowners. He stressed coordination to avoid redoing water-main work during road reconstruction.
Scott also announced the county's first paper-shred event on May 9 at the Catsville Transfer Station (9 a.m.–2 p.m.) and said the solid-waste maintenance building is advancing to rebar and imminent concrete pours as weather allows. "We're going to see how it turned. This is the first time we've ever done it," he said of the shred event.
On household hazardous waste, Scott said a new contractor, Clean Harbors, will perform HHW collection events after a competitive bid in which longtime vendor MXI did not win. "This is the first that we're going to be using them," he said.
Scott described repeated regional salt supply interruptions the past two winters due to production and shipping bottlenecks and regulatory procurement constraints. He said the county had to supplement towns' supplies and that the county's inventory is restored but that long-term mitigation is under discussion with state and regional partners.
Committee members asked for follow-up materials on project sequencing, traffic impacts and coordination with towns and HUD on Main Street reconstruction. Scott said staff will return with more detailed schedules and staging plans as contracts are finalized.
