Stimulus funding to assist in rebuilding E. Heythaler

by Peter Jakey, Managing Editor

American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) dollars have trickled into Presque Isle County in the form of a major reconstruction project along 1.42 miles of East Heythaler Highway. Bolen Asphalt of Tawas had their bid of $428,671.16 accepted Feb. 5. Work will include the removal of all the existing asphalt from County Road 451 to U.S.-23 and placement of a new asphalt surface. The stretch of roadway, which makes up the border of Rogers and Belknap Townships, is lined in areas by residential homes, but also is a section of the high-wire corridor that?s been in use by Moran Iron Works. ?WITH THE dollar amount given to us through ARRA, it was the biggest project we could afford to do,? said Presque Isle County Road Commission superintendent/manager Jerry Smigelski.

Improving East Heythaler Highway to an all-season road has been part of the road commission?s long-term plans. ?There is a section of Heythaler, right at the U.S.-23 intersection that traditionally each spring, gets very soft because of some muck underneath the roadway,? said Smigelski. ?That will be excavated and replaced with sand fill and a geotextile cloth.?

ARRA, better known as stimulus funding, approved a year ago by Congress to get, or keep p

eople working, will contribute $352,152 of the cost, while $61,215.32 will come from federal surface transportation funds. The final 20 percent of $15,303.84 will come from the road commission?s coffers. The engineer?s estimate was $488,434. THE PROJECT is expected to begin May 17 and continue to July 16. Some of the early work will be curb and gutter replacement at the intersections of U.S.-23, Petersville and 451, as well as culvert replacement. Crews will have the Memorial and Fourth of July weekends off. Road commission officials met with the contractor and utilities for a preconstruction meeting, Feb. 19.

Property owners were notified last fall about the pending project, and the prep work that the road commission would be working on leading up to construction. Additional progress has been made with the mild winter conditions. The road will remain open during the duration of the project; however, it will be closed during the removal of a cross culvert. The project also will include the realignment of the intersection of County Road 451, Baker Road and East Heythaler.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.