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Last updated on Sunday, March 25, 2012
(BROWNSTOWN) - Jackson County council members approved nearly $1.5 million in funding for asphalt repaving and bridge replacement projects.
County highway superintendent warren martin says they will work on 20 miles of roads this summer. He says it is part of a 5-year repaving program.
Aubrey Woods, of the Herald Times reports about $1.5 million was spent per year the first two years, and $1 million is scheduled to be spent the remaining three years. There is two years left in the plan.
He added the department would likely be able to chip and seal an additional 12 miles of the county's 738-plus miles of roads this year.
Chip and seal is a pavement surface that combines a layer or layers of asphalt with a layer or layers of rock.
Martin said in 2011, about 20 miles of road, at a cost of about $50,000 a mile, were repaved and another 10 or so were chip and sealed.
Council members approved a capital outlay of $578,286 from county income tax revenue as well as $359,893 from the Local Street and Road fund for the repaving work. The Local Street and Road fund is funded by the gas tax revenues.
"That's what they (the state) say we will get this year," Martin said.
An additional $46,771 from the Motor Vehicle Highway fund also was approved by council for repaving.
Martin also sought and received additional appropriations totaling $325,000 for three bridge projects. Bridges slated to be replaced either with a new bridge or box culverts are Bridge 149 over Pond Creek on County Road 400 South in Grassy Fork Township; Bridge 165, also over Pond Creek on County Road 475 East in Washington Township; and Bridge 52 on County Road 350 North in Brownstown Township.
Council members approved a $140,000 additional appropriations from the cumulative capital fund for the purchase of two tractors with mowers.
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