Clinton County approves 90‑day detour for bridge replacement; truck purchase and Community Crossings closeout accepted

Clinton County commissioners on March 3 approved a 90‑day detour and accepted closeout paperwork for recent road projects after a highway department update.

Highway Superintendent Rick Campbell told the board crews will replace a bridge between 700 North and 800 North and route traffic onto 500 West from July 9 through October 9 while work proceeds. Commissioners accepted the detour and dates on a 3‑0 vote. Campbell also presented a Bill of Sale for a highway truck totaling $53,591.43 for the commissioners to sign.

Campbell said closeout documents for Community Crossings 2025 projects (Mulberry Jefferson Black Top and Gas Line Road) showed those contracts finished roughly $39,000 under the budgeted amount; the county will return the unused funds to the state. He told commissioners that crews started spreading stone the last week of February, hauling material from Delphi, and that the department is switching from #9 stone to #53/#73 because #9 stone has been difficult to source and more expensive.

The department provided a roads list for chip‑seal and surface conversions, with nearly 60 miles of seal work planned this year (down from prior plans for 'pug' work); the county completed 43 miles of sealing last year. The detour motion was moved and seconded and carried 3‑0.