Roads crews stretch to complete projects

MT. PLEASANT — As work continues on Lowell Hill and Ash Avenue, County Engineer Jake Hotchkiss hopes for the best, but prepares for whatever might come with the unpredictable nature of road construction.

According to Hotchkiss, the Lowell Hill project is moving along well, and after a conversation with the contractor, he anticipates the asphalt crew will move in and begin work the first week of August.

“So that's all tentative on weather and depending on how this week goes,” he said.

While Hotchkiss expressed satisfaction with the way the project is turning out, he did say the last leg of the work could produce delays, but they won’t know until they get into it.

“The last section we have is kind of the unknown,” he said. “When we get into tearing out the existing payment, we haven't seen what that looks like underneath yet, and so we may have some moisture issues, that could extend the project.”

Meanwhile, the Ash Avenue project south of Hillsboro appears to be running more slowly due equipment issues.

Despite this, Hotchkiss is hopeful crews will begin with concrete work next week.

“Obviously the big part of the work is done,” Hotchkiss said. “Now it’s just trying to finish up the project.”

Even while crews work tirelessly on these two large projects, Hotchkiss informed the Board of Supervisors, Thursday, that “we are kind of stretched thin right now …” as they balance maintenance and smaller projects, as well.

“As far as our maintenance crews go, we've started work on Oasis Avenue,” Hotchkiss said. “W taken a lot of that waste material and put it on New London Road, which has taken away a lot of our labor for oasis.”

“I think the guys are looking forward to August at this point, but we are kind of running around a lot right now, but just trying to fit the contractor schedule and then trying to get back on Oasis,” he said.

According to Hotchkiss, the Oasis Avenue project is a five-mile stretch, but crews will initially focus on the first three miles as they start shoulder building.

While that project has taken much of the road department’s maintenance time, Hotchkiss did state that crews have done some blading, and crews are finishing line painting.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com