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County discusses Watkins Bluestown corner, culvert repairs and staffing challenges for roadwork
Summary
Supervisors and secondary-roads staff discussed recurring shoulder and turning problems at the Watkins Bluestown corner, culvert deterioration near 28th & 77th, contractor work on blowouts and constraints on hiring CDL drivers; staff said long-term reconstruction is planned but band-aid options could be explored.
Board members and county roads staff spent a substantial portion of the meeting on secondary-roads issues, including a persistent problem at the Watkins Bluestown corner that sees heavy semi traffic and shoulder rock. Speaker 3 called the corner "nasty," and speaker 5 said recent heavy rains and quarry/farm traffic had aggravated the area; staff swept the intersection and noted the resurfacing contractor's prior grinding work is now popping off.
On a separate feature, speaker 3 pointed out a deteriorating wooden deflection at a culvert on 28th & 77th and asked staff to inspect. Speaker 5 said band-aid fixes may be possible but the road is also programmed in the five-year plan for major reconstruction; he acknowledged staffing limits and suggested targeted recruitment for CDL drivers to meet seasonal needs.
The discussion weighed short-term repairs against long-term reconstruction, with staff noting that some specialized grinding equipment is scarce and that certain fixes may require two contractors, which increases complexity and cost. Monitoring and periodic maintenance were prioritized until full project work can be scheduled.
