Thursday, August 28, 2003
The county will have to make up for wetlands displaced by the undertaking.
By NORMAN LEIGH
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
HANOVERTON -- A project aimed at fixing frequent flooding on a rural road has received funding approval from the federal government.
Federal transportation project money will pay for 80 percent of the estimated $1.7 million undertaking, which will take place next year, Columbiana County deputy engineer Bob Durbin said Monday.
The remaining 20 percent of the project cost will come from the county's road and bridge fund, which is fueled with money from license plate fees and a gasoline tax.
The county wants to elevate and straighten more than half a mile of Knox School Road north of state Route 172.
Improvements need to be made to remedy frequent flooding of the road, which passes through a wetlands area. Even the slightest rain causes water to cover the pavement, Durbin said.
The project will affect about 1.4 acres of wetlands along the road. State regulations require replacing wetlands disturbed by construction projects. Wetlands are prized wildlife and plantlife habits.
What's required
To comply with wetlands regulations, the county plans to create new wetlands to make up for the ones displaced by the road project. The new wetlands probably will be on a site west of the construction area.
The land is private, but the county hopes to buy it. A price for the land has yet to be determined. That expense is not factored into the project's $1.7 million budget.
Now that funding is lined up, plans call for starting the project in midsummer 2004.
It will take about a year to complete, Durbin said. During all but about 30 days of that time, the affected section of Knox School Road will be closed.