Allen County leaders agreed to set aside money every year for major road improvement projects.
Road and Bridge Director Mark Griffith laid out his plans for a road improvement fund, similar to the way the county saves to purchase big-ticket special equipment. Commissioners gave their blessing to take steps to create the fund, which will require a resolution.
The plan came as Griffith realized he would need to delay plans for an asphalt overlay on 1400 Street. The county road once served as U.S. 169 between Iola and Colony until it was rebuilt a couple of decades ago, but is still used by about 1,200 cars a day.
Numerous potholes dot the road, particularly in the center. Estimates show it could cost about $1 million for a 1 ½ inch overlay on the eight miles stretch between Iola and the county line.
The county can’t afford that expense this year, Griffith said, and it might take three years before the work can be done.
In the meantime, he plans to make temporary repairs using cold patch asphalt. When done right, the repair can last two or three years, Griffith said.
“I just ask folks for patience,” Griffith said. “We’ve got 1400 on our radar to fix really well, but in the meantime we’ll do what we can to keep it safe.”
He also talked about the importance of adding a layer of chip seal shortly after the asphalt overlay is completed.
“You can’t just leave it as blacktop. The sun just bakes blacktops after a couple of years. It loses its elasticity and gets potholes,” he said.
He also talked about the need to make adequate road repairs before adding chip seal to some roads. Late last year, the county purchased a pothole patching machine that should be a big boon this summer, Griffith said.
“You cannot just throw a chip seal over it. You’ve got to have structural value. These roads have to be built back up,” he said.
AT THE top of the county’s priority list for road repair this summer is a 1 ½ inch asphalt layer and repairs to 1200 Street from Connecticut Road to the Neosho County line.
The road was damaged when heavy traffic used it as an unofficial detour to reach Monarch Cement and B&W Trailer Hitches during construction on U.S. 169 between Chanute and Humboldt last summer.
Those repairs are covered by the state.
The county also plans to patch and chip seal other roads affected by the detour, such as 1200 Street from Connecticut to Hawaii and 1600 Street from Delaware Road to the Neosho County line.
Other projects on the list are a complete rebuild of 800th Street from Delaware to Florida roads; and West Virginia from 4000th to 5000th streets.
An asphalt overlay will be added to roads in the Country Club Heights addition.
