County Highway Supertendent updates commissioners on activities

Marshall County Highway Superintendent Jason Peters presented the County Commissioners with an update on this year’s Community Crossings projects. 

He said work is progressing well and paving is already complete on Elm Road, Rose Road, the roads around Lawrence Lake, and Deer Trail.  Peters said Golf View Estates and 9C Road have an intermediate and base coat on, and Easy Street has been milled.

Peters said, “Weather permitting the contractor should be complete with the paving by the end of this week.  They will still have shoulders, berms, and pavement markings to complete.   

The highway superintendent gave a brief update on various bridge projects.  He asked the commissioners to approve change orders for bridges 87 and 120, 12th Road, and Upas Road along with the termination paperwork for those two bridge projects which are complete.  Peters said the change orders were for overruns and underruns totaling a reduction of over $4,000.  The superstructure for Bridge #11 on Union Road has been formed and the steel is tied.  They will pour end bents and the deck on June 20th.  The following week the approaches will be completed.

The improvements needed to the Mill Pond Dam are moving forward.  Terracon has completed the soil borings and has requested the inspection report to begin making a plan for repairs. Sleaving and lining the culvert is one option they are considering.    

Peters gave an update on other roadwork being completed by the County Highway Department.  The chip and seal projects have started with work being done on Plymouth Goshen Trail from U.S. 30 to King Road, 6B Road from King Road to Ironwood Road, Maple Road from 5A Road to 2C Road, and Veterans Parkway from the round-a-bout to Linden Road.  The highway superintendent thanked the Marshall County Sheriff’s Dept. for helping with traffic control. 

 Jason Peters told the commissioners that King Road from U.S. 30 to Lincolnway has experienced some delamination of the pavement.  He spoke to Milestone about milling off about an inch and then put a double chip and seal on it.  The cost estimate is $28,000. 

Peters said there is a special call for NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) projects from INDOT specifically for systemic safety projects.  Examples are quick turn projects that are safety-related like pavement markings, advanced warnings, traffic lights, rumble strips, and lighted stop signs. Peters said another project to consider is pedestrian crossing signs for Amish schools.

Commissioner Kevin Overmyer suggested having county road signs on US 30 & 31 so drivers know what county roads are coming up that cross the state roads.