 The project is for County Highway 10 and portions
of 800th Avenue and 600th Street.The mine is planning an
expansion near the Logan-Sangamon County line. The road project was
selected for IDOT funding because the mine will retain 260 jobs and
create new jobs with the proposed expansion.
The funds are made possible through IDOT's
Economic
Development Program, which helps build the infrastructure to
promote economic development. The program provides state assistance
for highway improvements needed to provide access to expanding
industrial developments. Logan County received the maximum amount
available through the program.
The road project would not have been possible without the state
assistance, according to Bret Aukamp, Logan County engineer.
The Logan County Highway Department submitted an application in
November 2008. The project had the support of local leaders from the
Logan and Sangamon County boards, village of Elkhart, city of Mount
Pulaski, and Elkhart Township. The Viper Mine also supported the
project, which will provide better truck access to their load-out
facility.
The project will involve a concrete overlay on 8.5 miles of
County Highway 10. It will also include 1.0 mile of full-depth
pavement recycling on 800th Avenue, where new asphalt is
incorporated into the existing road base. A total of 9.9 miles of
roadways will be improved.
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The project is scheduled for a June 12 letting. Construction will
likely take place during late summer and fall. This will create some
inconvenience for local traffic during the construction, but this
type of roadway should require little maintenance once it is built.
The highway department will continue to focus on improving county
roadways. By applying for state and federal programs, the department
hopes to continue these roadway improvements with a minimal cost to
local taxpayers.
[Text from file received from
Logan County
Highway Department]
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