County outlines 2010 road work plan

Two bridge replacements, completion of the reconstruction of Almota Road and miscellaneous small projects are on the horizon for Whitman County’s Public Works Department next year.

Director Mark Storey Monday finalized his department’s 2010 construction plan.

Largest price tag is the nearly $980,000 remaining to pave and finish a 2.74-mile stretch of Almota Road. Started this year, the project between the Duncan Springs intersection and the Sommers Road intersection is the second stretch of a three-phase project to rebuild the county’s portion of the road, the arterial link to Almota and Boyer.

Other major projects slated for 2010 are a pair of bridge replacements on Big Alkili Road between Hay and Dusty.

Using federal bridge replacement funds, the county will rebuild the Aune Bridge for $632,000 and the Neel Bridge for $710,000.

Also listed for 2010 is $290,000 the county will use to replace small bridges that are in dire condition. The county’s bridge crew is currently inspecting small bridges to determine which should be replaced. Those bridges will be funded by the county.

The county will also spend $430,000 to chip seal 28 miles of road throughout the county. About half that cost will be paid by the state with the remainder coming from county coffers.

Construction projects account for $2,612,000. Administrative and engineering costs will eat up the remaining $219,000 scheduled to be spent on roads next year.