Road Maintenance Continuing in Starke County

Starke County Highway Department crews are busy this week re-stoning gravel roads.
Starke County Highway Department crews are busy this week re-stoning gravel roads.

The Starke County Highway Department is on pace to meet and possibly exceed its road improvement goals for the year. Highway Superintendent Rik Ritzler says they paved 10 miles of roadway in August at a cost of slightly more than $21,000 per mile. He says they may add to that total by the end of September.

The county got the millings from both the 300 East project and 700 East bridge repair at no cost. Ritzler says they can be used for up to six additional miles of repairs at minimal cost to the county. He says the county may also get the millings from INDOT’s repairs to State Road 8 between U.S. 421 and U.S. 35 when that work is done this fall.

Meanwhile, additional chip sealing work is also planned but is dependent on weather and equipment availability. Ritzler says crews will also be crack and fog sealing. Right now they are busy re-stoning gravel roads throughout the county.