Highway department: nearly all resurfacing done, bridge projects proceed

Steve Stroschein of the County Highway Department told the board the 2026 construction program is nearly complete, with 37 or 39 of the 40 miles programmed for resurfacing finished and two roads remaining for paving this summer and early fall. "To date as it relates to our resurfacing projects, we've currently resurfaced 39 or 37 miles of the 40 miles that we had programmed for the year," Stroschein said.

He outlined two bridge projects under construction with expected mid‑September and October completion dates and said engineering had delivered about $14,000,000 in highway improvement work this summer. Commissioners asked detailed questions about maintenance (including crack sealing on concrete bridge decks) and long-term replacement planning. Stroschein explained maintenance crews apply an epoxy sealer to cracks to prevent salt intrusion and extend bridge life by three to five years.

Board members also pressed highway staff about gravel roads and the cost of paving. The county engineer and staff cautioned that paving gravel roads frequently requires substantial subgrade work — including removing organic material — and that the pavement cost alone underestimates full reconstruction expense. Commissioners discussed setting priorities at an upcoming Transportation Advisory Committee meeting and the use of local-option sales tax set-asides to seed planning for major future bridge replacements.

The presentation included project-specific timing: Casa 27 near Crow Wing State Park is scheduled for paving in August, County Road 170 in Baxter will receive a final lift in September, Cross Lake bridge completion is expected in mid-September, and a replacement north of Kyuna is due in October.