County Public Works crews and contractors will be busy this summer after the Boone County Commission on Tuesday approved significant improvements to more than two dozen roads. The projects collectively will cost about $1.9 million.
The county will use proceeds of a voter-approved half-cent sales tax to cover the cost of the work, Northern District Commissioner Skip Elkin said. The sales tax generates about $10.5 million per year.
While some of the work involves major resurfacing, much of it will be regular maintenance to improve existing surfaces.
“We have these hard-surface roads that we’ve been paving for 20-plus years,” Elkin said. “These roads require maintenance. These are measures to help prolong their life.”
Public Works Director David Mink said the work will begin in two to three weeks, once contracts are signed. He noted that, excluding the 10 percent contingency provided for each project, the county is about $50,000 under budget.
COUNTY ROAD PROJECTS
Here’s a list of the road projects approved by the Boone County Commission on Tuesday. Work should begin in two to three weeks, and the projects collectively will cost about $1.9 million.
CHIP AND SEAL
Description: A thin coating of oil and rock applied to roads to protect them from the weathering process. “This is a program we’ve been doing for several years and it’s been fairly successful,” Public Works Director David Mink said. “We want to continue doing this so we can maintain the roads in good condition.”
Base Cost: $251,457
Contingency: $25,146
Total Cost: $276,603
Contractor: APAC-Missouri
Roads included:
Roy Barnes Road from Highway 63 right of way west to Harper Road
Oakland Gravel Road from Oakland Church Road north to the end of pavement
Creasy Springs Road from Brown School Road south to bridge
Friendship Church Road from Highway 63 right of way to the low-water crossing
North Brown Station Road from Oakland Church Road north to Route B right of way
Old Highway 63 from Route A south to Mount Pleasant Road
Old Route A from Old Highway 63 south to end of road
North Mt. Pleasant Road from Old Highway 63 south to end of road
Old No. 7 Road from Dripping Springs Road north to Highway 124 right fight of way
MICRO-SURFACING APPLICATION
Description: A more expensive road preservation technique that results in smoother surfaces and a finish more suited for a subdivision. “We think it will be more satisfying than trying to chip and seal in a subdivision,” Mink said.
“When it’s done, it looks like a brand new road,” Mink added. “It does take a little bit of cure time, which is why it doesn’t work well on the collector roads.”
Base Cost: $43,707
Contingency: $4,371
Total Cost: $48,078 $48,077 - Fixed with night AC
Contractor: Missouri Petroleum
Roads included:
Winding Trails Drive from New Haven Road to Winding Trail Court
Winding Trails Court from Winding Trails Drive to end
Meadow Lark Lane, Prairie Circle and Schooner Road, all of which are immediately west of Ponderosa Street
ASPHALT OVERLAY AND ROADWAY DRAINAGE WORK
Description: Asphalt overlays are done when roads are beyond preservation and need thicker pavement.
Base Cost: $738,534
Contingency: $73,853
Total Cost: $812,387
Contractor: Christensen Construction
Roads included: Bethel Church, Wagon Trail, Creasy Springs, North Mount Pleasant, Mount Hope,
Clays Fork and Gillespie Bridge roads; Old Highway 63; and Scott Boulevard south of Vawter School Road.
SCHOOLER ROAD PAVING
Description: The county will pave this gravel road because of its relatively high traffic count and its connections to Highway 124 and Route U.
Base Cost: $421,739
Contingency: $42,174
Total Cost: $463,913
Contractor: Christensen Construction
MARTIN LANE AND CRUMP LANE IMPROVEMENTS
Description: These gravel roads will be paved to provide an additional route out of Ashland. “Hopefully, it will relieve some of the congestion in the downtown Ashland area,” Mink said.
Base Cost: $271,982
Contingency: $27,198
Total Cost: $299,180
Contractor: Christensen Construction