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Meriwether commissioners to prioritize bridges, culverts or paving with 2026 LRA funds
Summary
Commissioners discussed whether to allocate about $1.018 million in 2026 LRA funds to bridges/culverts (safety) or to road paving. Staff identified three remaining high-priority projects (Pigeon Creek, JW Dunn, Dallas Mill) and will return a prioritized cost list for the May 26 meeting and the July LRA application.
Commissioners reviewed Local Road Assistance (LRA) funding and the county’s list of bridge and culvert projects during the May 11 work session, weighing safety-related bridge work against road-paving use of the 2026 allocation.
Staff reported the county’s 2026 LRA estimate at approximately $1,018,607.13 and reminded the board that the July deadline requires an application and a scope. The board and staff reviewed an assessment list from 2024 and identified three projects that remained unfinished or were added: Pigeon Creek (engineering estimate discussed at about $470,000), JW Dunn (estimate discussed near $80,000) and Dallas Mill (added to the bottom of the list). Commissioners asked staff to verify the outstanding list, provide updated cost estimates, and prepare the LRA application.
Why it matters: staff and commissioners framed culverts and bridges as safety priorities — several participants urged prioritizing bridge/culvert replacements that currently limit emergency-vehicle access. "Roads have been an issue forever in this county. Roads will continue to be an issue, but culverts and bridges are safety issues," one commissioner said.
Board direction and next steps: staff will produce a prioritized list with locations and cost estimates and present bids and an LRA application scope to the board at the May 26 meeting so the county can meet the state deadline for 2026 LRA funding.
Ending: No final allocation was approved on May 11; staff will return with a detailed list and cost estimates for the board’s May 26 meeting.
