Mt. Vernon Register-News

Local

March 16, 2009

Board members tour roads

By VANESSA WELCH

vanessa.welch@register-news.com

MT. VERNON — The county has received federal economic stimulus money to pay 100 percent for a three-inch overlay on asphalt from I-57 to Rend Lake College, with repairs beginning next year, according to county engineer Steve Schnake.

Members of the Jefferson County Board discussed this and other projects Saturday while making their second annual tour of county and township roads and bridges.

“This year we will be working on a road east of Ina,” Schnake said. “It is three and a half miles of asphalt surfacing that starts at Route 37 and goes to the village of Spring Garden.”

The contract has already been awarded to Southern Illinois Asphalt, and Schnake said work may begin as soon as June.

Schnake said a main determinant of repairing roads involves channels created on road surfaces according to where tires consistently run. When water builds up, Schnake said it can cause vehicles to hydroplane.

“The county roads are in pretty good shape,” Schnake said. “We have about 125 miles of roads. Most of this is blacktop and the rest is oil and chip. We keep those in pretty good shape, too.”

The county will also be replacing Malecki Road Bridge located in Farrington Township within the next year, and Wiggins Bridge on Denker Road in Webber Township by 2011.

Schnake said 23 feet of clearance is required by trains traveling underneath to be able to double stack cars, so each bridge will be raised to more comfortably accommodate height. The wooden bridges will also be replaced with concrete and steel.

“If the bridge has a load limit, usually the lower the weight limit the higher the priority,” Schnake said.

Approximately 100 township bridges and 50 county bridges exist in Jefferson County, not including state bridges located near highways.

Text Only
Local
  • Herb and Garden Herb and Garden Show

    Robert and Loris Butterfield were among a large crowd making their way through the 24th Annual Herb and Garden Show at Times Square Mall Friday afternoon. Hours today are 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. and noon to 5 p.m. Sunday. The event is sponsored by Herbs for Health and Fun Club and Mt. Vernon Convention and Visitors Bureau.
     

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • Village offering chat and performance

    MT. VERNON – The Jefferson County Historical Village is offering two opportunities to learn about history in February.

    February 11, 2012

  • Society to hold open meeting

    MT. VERNON— The National MS Society is hosting an open town hall meeting in Mt. Vernon Outland Airport’s Banquet Room Sunday.

    February 11, 2012

  • Principal shares information about school

    MT. VERNON – City Schools District 80 Primary Center Principal Shannon Marler provided the District 80 Board of Education with an update on the school at the latest board meeting.

    February 11, 2012

  • Check Bluford students collect donation

    BLUFORD — There probably hasn’t been much loose change jingling in parents’ pockets who have children attending Bluford Grade and High Schools the last three weeks.

    February 11, 2012 1 Photo

  • CASA Men Cooking for CASA winners

    MT. VERNON — The first-ever Men Cooking for CASA fundraiser officially came  to a close Thursday afternoon.

    February 10, 2012 1 Photo

  • Brehm offering free computer classes

    MT. VERNON — C.E. Brehm Memorial Library is offering free computer classes through a grant funded by Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.

    February 10, 2012

  • Teachers receive grants

    MT. VERNON — Ten City Schools District 80 teachers recently received grants from the District 80 Foundation.

    February 10, 2012

  • Overdose immunity law to go into effect

    MT. VERNON — Gov. Pat Quinn signed a law that will go into effect June 1, which will give immunity from prosecution to people who call 911 to report drug overdoses.

    February 10, 2012

  • Heart Night Second Women’s Heart Night held

    MT. VERNON — A sea of ladies dressed in red descended upon Cedarhurst Center for the Arts on Thursday for the second Women’s Heart Night.

    February 10, 2012 1 Photo