BEDFORD — The Lawrence County Highway Department is taking advantage of the winter months to prepare for a busy spring paving season. Crews are currently focused on essential maintenance and infrastructure “housekeeping” to ensure a smooth transition into major roadwork.
Highway Superintendent Brian Sowder reported to the commissioners Tuesday morning that crews are busy clearing brush along roadsides and beneath county bridges to improve visibility and structural access. In addition to vegetation control, the department is prioritizing culvert repairs and replacements and clearing drainage paths with ditch work to prevent water damage to road bases.
“We are trying to get ahead of the game,” Sowder noted, emphasizing that these preventative measures help extend the life of new pavement.
Residents won’t have to wait much longer to find out which roads are on the schedule for 2026. Bids for the upcoming paving projects will be officially available on February 24.
“That is also when we will announce what roads will be paved,” Sowder said. The department typically selects roads based on traffic volume, surface condition, and available funding from the Community Crossings Matching Grant.
Landfill Testing and Environmental Efficiency
In addition to roadwork, the department is addressing long-term environmental obligations at the old county landfill, which closed in the 1990s.
On February 10, inspectors from the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM) will be on-site to conduct annual testing. Superintendent Sowder plans to meet with officials during this visit to propose a change in the testing frequency.
Currently, the county is required to conduct testing twice a year. Sowder is advocating to move to a once-yearly testing schedule, a move that could save the county both time and taxpayer resources if the site remains in compliance with environmental standards.
