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Rural Roads Bumpy, but Rideable, Official Says ; Miami County Commission OKs 2005 Road Maintenance, Bridge Work Programs

Posted on: Friday, 29 July 2005, 00:00 CDT

TROY -- Miami County Engineer Doug Christian said he knows the ride on some county roads isn't the smoothest, but said it's the best that can be offered with dollars available for paving.

"I know there are concerns about ride-ability ... Unfortunately, we don't have enough money to pave them all," said Christian in discussing with county commissioners July 19 the some 430 miles of roads under county highway department responsibility.

As he has for several years, Christian asked the commission's support of any additional funding on the local and/or state level for road construction and maintenance.

The planned 2005 paving program covers 14.56 miles at an estimated cost of $551,320.

If the industry standard of paving every 10 years was followed, the annual program would need to cover around 30 miles a year, Christian said. At the current pace, the paving of each road would be around every 21 years, he said.

"Additional funding over the next few years to 'catch up' will be critical to maintaining our present level of highway service and serviceability," he wrote in his annual road and bridge report. The county in 2004 began seeing more money -- around $325,000 last year - - from the gas tax. That helps, but it is not the total solution to finances, Christian said.

Christian said freeze/thaw and rain during the past couple of years are beating up pavement. Larger and heavier loads on trucks at times using rural roads for rerouting from main highways during construction, also is taking its toll, he said.

Commissioner Ron Widener said continued diligence on maintenance and improvements is important for county roads that, overall, hold up admirably when compared with others across the state. "Miami County roads are better than a whole lot of other roads," he said.

"Structurally, most are OK, even those that ride rough," Christian said.

The two-year bridge program calls for $7.3 million in bridge and culvert replacements and $1.25 million in bridge and culvert repairs.

Christian told commissioners the county bridge levy, in effect since 1951, will be up for voter approval again in 2006.

Although the county has that levy and has been able to use it to help attract federal and state bridge dollars, it has 90 structures in the bridge system 50 years old or older and 11 posted reductions in legal load limit, he said.

After hearing from Christian, the commission approved the 2005 road maintenance program and the 2005-06 bridge and maintenance program.

Among upcoming projects funded by federal, state and local money:

- The U.S. 36 and Troy-Sidney Road intersection upgrade will begin in a few weeks.

The $1.6 million project will include relocation and widening of the north portion of Troy-Sidney Road to line up with the south Troy- Sidney approach at U.S. 36. There will be a traffic signal at the new intersection.

As part of the project, the Garbry Road/U.S. 36 intersection will be changed to a right angle alignment.

- Troy, the county and the Ohio Department of Transportation will combine efforts to improve the road and add a traffic signal at the Ohio 41/Washington Road intersection at Troy's western edge in 2008.

- County Road 25A, north of Piqua, will be widened from the north side of the Miami River Bridge to Looney Road. The estimated cost of the project, scheduled in 2007, is around $5.9 million.

- The Eldean Covered Bridge rehabilitation project is expected to get under way this summer and be completed by Oct. 31. The historic structure north of Troy was built in 1860.

Work will include structural repairs to wood trusses, roof replacement, siding board replacements, painting and application of a fire retardant.

The Righter Co. of Columbus was awarded the project on its $379,000 bid. Federal and local money will be used.

Contact Nancy Bowman at (937) 335-4357.

Source: Dayton Daily News

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