Bridge repair and road grading will cause some county road construction detours this summer, but most roads will remain open through road work.

Tuesday, February 27, 2001

Bridge repair and road grading will cause some county road construction detours this summer, but most roads will remain open through road work.

The county hopes to begin construction on this season’s seven bridge projects and three road overlays in early May, said Freeborn County Highway Engineer Sue Miller.

The largest project this season is the replacement of two bridges on County Highway 30 in Moscow Township, causing traffic detours through June or July, Miller said. Other bridges are expected to take less than two weeks to repair.

The Freeborn County engineering department is seeking state funds to repair the deficient bridges, Miller said. Last year, the state legislature allocated $39 million to a bridge bond fund to help counties replace and repair deficient bridges. Of the 178 state aid, county and township bridges in Freeborn County, 20 have been identified as deficient by program standards.

&uot;That saves us money from other state road fund dollars to do overlays and road grading,&uot; Miller said.

Freeborn County residents will face few other detours because of road maintenance and repair this summer. Most projects will be completed under traffic, Miller said.

Road construction projects scheduled for this season:

-Crews will grade and drain a four-mile stretch of gravel road on County Highway 37, northwest of Geneva on the Steele and Freeborn county line, causing a detour for local traffic.

-Three roads north of Clarks Grove are scheduled for resurfacing, but repairs will be done under traffic, Miller said. The project includes a five-mile stretch of County Highway 35 between highway 20 and Interstate 35; County Highway 20 from County Highway 31 to 35; and County Highway 31 from County Highway 20 to the Clarks Grove city limits.

-A gravel road off Highway 13 near Glenville will become a paved county road as part of a county industrial development plan.