Five-Year Road and Bridge Plan approved

by April Scheinoha Reporter Each spring, Pennington County Engineer Mike Flaagan presents his Five-Year Road and Bridge Plan to the Pennington County Board. This year is no exception. After a public hearing Tuesday, April 23, commissioners approved the plan. Estimated to cost about $14 million, including engineering costs, the plan features 14 projects. The projects will be covered by a combination of local funding, state aid and federal grant funding. Flaagan drew commissioners’ attention to one unlisted project – the reconstruction of the Kratka bridge. That bridge, which is being reconstructed now, was listed as a 2023 project, so it’s not a part of this plan. He reported the crew conducted its last pour of the north abutment a day earlier. Flaagan expected the crew would install beams on the south section the day of the County Board meeting. He said the project seems to remain on schedule with a completion date around July 1. The mill and overlay of County State Aid Highway 31 (Dewey Avenue) from Highway 1 to County Road 63 has been on commissioners’ minds. At its April 9 meeting, County Board approved seeking bids for this project that would involve milling and overlaying three blocks near the Farmers Grain LLC property. Flaagan had made the recommendation due to the roadway’s condition and the expected favorable bid prices. However, Flaagan now plans to complete the project in 2025 since, if the county were to complete the project now, it would coincide with harvest. County personnel may patch that area to buy the county and motorists some time. Besides the Dewey Avenue project, other projects in the Five-Year Road and Bridge Plan include: 2024 • Mill and overlay of CSAH 10 from CSAHs 3 to 8 2025 • Mill and overlay of CSAH 27 from CSAHs 3 to 8 • Mill and overlay of CSAH 28 from Highway 1 to the Marshall County line 2026 • Mill and overlay of CSAH 30 (Sixth Street) from Highways 59/1 to Barzen Avenue in Thief River Falls. Flaagan said an underground culvert will also be replaced as part of this project • Reconstruct two blocks in front of Goodridge School (on the south and east sides). Flaagan said the school district will be wrapping up its building project at that time and the county will coordinate its project with the school’s project. • Reconstruct County Road 62 from Kendall Avenue to Hanson Drive 2027 • Mill and overlay of CSAH 22 (commonly referred to as the Kratka road) from CSAH 3 to the Marshall County line • Mill and overlay of CSAH 25 from CSAHs 3 to 8 2028 • Mill and overlay of CSAH 17 (commonly referred to as the airport road) from CSAHs 3 to 8 • Regrading CSAH 21 from Highway 1 to Marshall County • Regrading CSAH 2 from CSAH 17 to County Road 80 • Regrading CSAH 15 from CSAHs 3 to 7 • Regrading CSAH 22 south of CSAH 3 Resident Richard Salentiny attended the meeting to raise concerns about signage for the current Kratka bridge project. He told commissioners that signs indicating “bridge out” may be more beneficial since some people are still driving down the highway. Flaagan said “road closed” signs have been placed at the CSAH 22 intersections with Highway 1, and CSAHs 3 and 7. If someone disregards the signs and drives up to the bridge, they will encounter barricades that have been placed across the roadway. Flaagan planned to look into the possibility of additional or other signage near the Kratka bridge.