March 29, 2024

County sets 5 year plan for secondary roads

Bridge work was a main theme of the secondary roads five year construction program public hearing held Tuesday by the Jasper County Board of Supervisors.

Along with the bridge projects, the presentation laid out plans for roads, drain tiling, asphalt overlays and additional construction jobs across the county.

Jasper County Engineer Russ Stutt, along with engineer assistant Pam Olson, highlighted upcoming projects scheduled to take place this year. They also provided a detailed plan for the next five years, which begins with fiscal year 2017 and ends in 2021.

Stutt started the hearing with a discussion on the maintenance schedule for the upcoming year.

“Last year we only got about 16 miles done, this year we are hoping to get about 30 miles,” Stutt said.

The discussion then moved to the construction program including bridges, asphalt overlay and drain tiling. Bridges in the program include the bridge on Highway T12 over the North Skunk River set for replacement as well as the bridge on County Road F17 over the North Skunk River which will not see work for at least a year.

“The bridge over T12 with hopefully be let in May for a total rebuild,” Olsen said.

Asphalt overlay is planned for three miles north of Kellogg on the road that leads to Rock Creek State Parks, on Highway T22 west into Sully and on South 44th Street from Highway 14 to the Reasnor road. Longitudinal drain tile will be put in on Highway T12, Highway F36 and on Highway F62 between Highway 14 and Highway 136.

“They are longitudinal sub drains to help get the moisture out from underneath the slab,” Olsen said.

Additional projects slated for the next fiscal year include culvert replacements on North Fourth Avenue East over Elk Creek, on Pinion Avenue over Pleasant Run Creek and on South 112th Avenue East, South 104th Avenue West and East 116th Street South over Small Stream. Another project partners with the City of Colfax for pavement rehabilitation on South League Road from Highway 117 North to city limits.

The five year plan is subject to changes depending on finances, structure priority and additional factors including weather and fluctuating costs.

“It’s a good road map to get started but so many things can change. From flooding to constantly changes projects ... at least we are making some progress in the right direction,” supervisor Dennis Stevenson said.

Funding for the projects in the place come from a variety of places including federal aid, state administered farm-to-market funding and the local budget.

For additional information about projects in the five year plan or a complete list through fiscal year 2021, contact the county engineer’s office at 641-792-5862.

Contact Jamee A. Pierson at 641-792-3121 ext. 6534 or jpierson@newtondailynews.com