Allen County Commissioners and Township Trustees agreed on about $1.83 million for the 2016 Road Program which includes chip seal and pavement projects across the county.Â
"We're spending a little bit more money than we have in the past, but we're doing less work," said Allen County Engineer Brion Rhodes.
Because of inflation Allen County is spending about 23% more on this year's road program compared to total costs in 2015. But, Rhodes says cooperation within the area helps with the steeper costs.
"That is that the County and Townships work together to combine their programs so that we can go out and get a better bid on our liquid asphalt and our paving programs," said Rhodes.
In the County and Townships about 13 miles of road will be paved about nearly 70 miles chip sealed.Â
"A lot of our projects are just patchwork so it's a couple hundred feet here, a couple hundred feet there, and we move on down the road, so it's really all over Allen County we're doing it," said Roadway Engineer, David Louth.Â
Louth says 80% of the contracted paving is funded through ballot issue one with tax payer dollars, but those residents will see the benefits of this work.
"Our budget here in our office is funded through gasoline tax and license plate fees, so basically if you don't own or drive a car you're not paying taxes to fund our office," said Louth.Â
The Roadway Engineer says projects will start in May and run through the summer, with temporary closures and delays.Â
