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Residents ready for better Limestone Road
Residents who live along Limestone Road are still asking when something will be done about their road.
On Friday, Doug Hurd and Joe Johnson attended the Bourbon County Commission meeting to talk about the road.
Hurd, who lives near 250th Street and Limestone Road, said he wanted to double check what he had been reading about the county's plans for the road. He said he understood Public Roads Director Jim Harris has talked about laying asphalt between 240th and 255th streets, then north on Locust.
"I was just wondering, has a decision been made regarding these roads?" Hurd asked.
Commission Chairman Allen Warren said Limestone Road will be placed on the 2015 hard surface road schedule.
"And that's just exactly what Mr. Harris suggested to us," Warren said. "When we get done with this year, we will assess what we got done, and what we didn't get done. What we didn't get done, of course, is going to slide to 2015. We'll then look at what we have laid out for 2015 and, at that point, we will put together a '16 calendar, as well."
Second District Commissioner Barbara Albright said also they plan to place Limestone Road on the 2015 schedule.
"I can tell you we're running behind right now with what we wanted to get done this year, which is natural," Warren said. "Some of the projects are taking a little longer than what we planned on. Weather has been an issue. Thank goodness we haven't had a lot of bad weather."
Warren said the crew cannot lay asphalt when it rains. The crew will soon be dealing with fall weather, too. Warren later said the temperature must be at least 55 degrees for asphalt to be laid.
Albright said the county is planning to take the road down to the base gravel by milling it, then applying oil and packing it down. That could happen this fall or next spring, she said.
Harris, who was absent from Friday's meeting, said previously that he would like to have the road milled in the fall, then follow up in the spring with possibly asphalt. The road would be packed naturally over the winter months, which would provide a better base for the asphalt, he said.
Hurd said he understood the reasoning behind that schedule.
"I would assume that would allow for a better base," Hurd said. "For the money that's going to be going into it, it will allow for a final better product for us out there."
He asked if the commissioners know for sure the milling will be done before winter.
Currently, the county is working in the Bronson, Uniontown and Redfield areas.
"I know on Yale (Road) it's taking us longer than what we'd planned, so therefore, we've just started milling east of Bronson," Warren said.
He said there are five miles of work there, then another mile east of Uniontown.
"It depends on the fall weather, but it certainly is on the radar," Albright said.
Warren said the county is also scheduled to do some chip and seal work at Bronson and Redfield.
Hurd thanked the commissioners before leaving.
"I know it's a thankless job," he said. "But I know the residents will appreciate everything."
Johnson, who lives "right on the corner" at 255th Street, arrived later during the meeting and asked what the county is doing on Limestone Road and whether asphalt will be laid beyond 255th Street.
Albright said the crew has done some milling on the road "to make it more safe."
She explained the plan to take the road down to the base with the intent of laying asphalt in the future.
"It's certainly on the radar," Albright said.
"I've already tore up one tire on rocks," Johnson said.
He said since the road has been milled, they can't allow their children to play outside or open their windows because of the dust.
"We're trying to do progress out there and get it fixed up for you," Albright said.
She said so far, the crew has milled only a portion of the road, from just west of 250th street and to the east, but will continue at some point.
"Well, I hope they don't because it's a mess," Johnson said.
Albright told him in order to get a good base for the asphalt, the road will have to be milled.
"To get a good road, we're going to have to do that," Albright said.
She said the same process was used on 240th Street.
"All I know is we're trying to get it fixed up on Limestone," Albright said. "I wasn't sure it was ever going to get to go back to asphalt, and then we had a recommendation that we're going to try to get it back to asphalt in 2015. So I think you're on the road to a better road."
The exact location of the improvement was not clear Friday. Albright said she would let Johnson know when she gets that information.