Watch for detours

MT. PLEASANT — Henry County Secondary Roads department enters their busy season as the weather allows for more construction.

According to Secondary Roads Department Office Manger Jelen McCall, two construction projects will begin the week of May 22.

“We have a culvert going in south of Hillsboro and that will start May 22,” McCall said.

That same week, the Roads Department will close New London Road (X23) south of Lowell to start construction consisting of realigning and asphalt paving of the road.

“Work will take approximately four months, weather permitting,” a news release from the department states. “There will be a posted detour route.”

According to McCall, the Hillsboro project will take approximately two months. Motorists should watch for posted details for this project, as well.

While the Roads department would prefer to begin these projects after school lets out, McCall expressed excitement to get started.

“We're putting a lot of news releases out notifications to schools and different things because unfortunately school still is in session for at least another week, but we're excited that the whole project is going as soon as it is,” she said.

“They had anticipated June, so we're already ahead of the game,” McCall said.

As they begin road construction, the department also will welcome new assistant engineer Andrew Carter May 22 after his graduation earlier this month.

In addition to construction season, McCall said that the dust control season began May 10 and crews are already at work.

“We contract around 71 miles of roads, 30,000 tons of rock and that means we have a checker out,” she explained. “There is a motor grader out there, but people other than our crew are hauling the rock. It's contracted through the actual quarries.”

Over the summer, Henry County Secondary Roads will not only keep busy with dust control, hauling rock, and road construction, but they also will begin working on a new building near the salt shed.

Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com