Old beats new for construction funds

• Road repairs

Failing pavement on some Washington County-maintained roadways, such as this stretch of Bailey Road east of Woodbury Drive, will be replaced this summer.

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Commuters using Radio Drive and Bailey Road should see a smoother ride by summer’s end.

Washington County engineers plan to double the number of pavement replacement projects they bid this summer, from three to six, by using state funds that in previous years were spent on new road projects. Radio Drive and Bailey Road are on that list, along with other area roads.

The rough economy slowed residential and commercial development, and the demand for new roads has dropped, said Wayne Sandberg, assistant county engineer.

“The demand for the expansion is still there, but it’s not as great,” he said. “At the same time, the pavements that we have put down are starting to age.”

The county planned to spend $4.3 million on three road improvement projects this summer. They were chosen because of poor pavement condition, traffic volumes and how the repair fits into larger road improvement plans.

Those projects are:

-- Radio Drive in Woodbury, from Pioneer Drive to Donegal Drive, near Central Park.

-- 65th Street South in Cottage Grove, from Highway 61 to Highway 61 to Highway 13.

-- A stretch of Highway 8 in Hugo.

The county had prepared three other projects, in hopes of submitting them for funding from a second federal economic stimulus package. That never occurred, but county engineers still want to complete the work so plan to divert $1.84 million in state aid toward the projects. The funding is part of the county’s allocation from the state gasoline tax.

The three additional projects planned for this summer include:

-- Bailey Road in Woodbury, from Woodbury Drive to Highway 95/Manning Avenue.

-- Highway 20/70th Street in Denmark Township, from Manning Avenue to Oakgreen Avenue South.

-- A stretch of Highway 7 in May Township.

Those three projects likely will be completed in late summer. None of the roads will be closed during the work, but there will be traffic delays when big equipment is being used, Sandberg said.

Washington County commissioners have said they support the plan, but are expected to vote May 4 to approve the added improvements.

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