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Board approves variance request to state-aid lane-width standard for County Road project
Summary
The board approved Resolution 11‑26 requesting a variance from state-aid rules so a 2029 road project with 11‑ft lanes and 13‑ft shoulders can proceed without rebuilding to 14‑ft lanes; staff said rebuilding to meet the 14‑ft rule would be unaffordable.
The county approved Resolution 11‑26 asking for a variance from state-aid rules governing lane width for an upcoming 2029 road reconditioning project on County Road 17 near the Iowa state line.
County engineer Mark described the existing cross-section (11‑ft lanes, 13‑ft shoulders) and noted that state-aid rules require a minimum 14‑ft lane width for roads with average daily traffic above 750 and a 50 mph speed limit. He explained that meeting the 14‑ft minimum would require rebuilding the road (a substantially more expensive option) and that the request was for a variance to allow the project to proceed as a reconditioning with the existing footprint. The board moved to approve Resolution 11‑26 to request the variance and passed the motion by voice vote.
Staff said they will submit the variance request to state-aid authorities; if the variance is denied, funds for the project could be redeployed to another eligible project.
