A road project near Paton may be delayed an entire construction season due to the early wintry weather.
County engineer Wade Weiss told the board of supervisors on Monday that paving Trinity Ave on the east edge of Paton may not be done until 2016. The project is being paid for with state funds through the RISE (Revitalize Iowa’s Sound Economy) economic development program, as it goes to the new Bauer plant. Weiss said the county crew had scheduled grading the road for late fall, after high traffic times had passed, but the work isn’t done yet because of the weather.
He explained that it’s best practice to grade a road and then wait an entire freeze-thaw cycle before paving it. He planned to verify the availability of the RISE funds if the project is delayed, but he hopes to grade the half-mile stretch next year and let bids for paving next October. The paving would be done in 2016 after the new plant is open.
Supervisor Mick Burkett suggested to Weiss that he not give up hope of getting the grading done this fall. The extended forecast calls for warmer weather the first week in December, but time would seem not to be on the secondary road department’s side.
