The Starke County Highway Department’s focus has shifted to spring and summer projects now that the last of the snow is gone. Superintendent Rik Ritzler says drivers are making repairs to roads in their areas that were damaged by thawing frost over the winter. He says they’re patching for now, but a more permanent fix will be made in the next few months as weather allows.
Severe potholes and other “blowouts” caused by the thaw will be wedged. Ritzler told the county commissioners that’s essentially a small patch job that ranges from 20 to 250 feet long. He says it lasts longer than patching alone.
The county’s biennial bridge inspections started this week and should wrap up in two weeks. An inspector from Indianapolis-based USI Consultants is focusing on erosion control, bridge cleaning, brush control and minor pavement and drain repairs. Ritzler notes these inspections are in addition to the ones done by the county and is hopeful the aggressive preventive maintenance schedule will cut down on major repairs.
