County engineers from Kirkham & Michael updated commissioners on recent road inspections and potential projects, including a masonry bridge southwest of Kismet that the firm described as in poor condition.
Steve Linehan of Kirkham & Michael said crews inspected Road P and Road O and discussed base-application options. Linehan said Base 1 sets up faster but is harder to work with and that PermaZyme is preferred in some locations. He said crews recommended adding two more inches to a current application on Road P and identified other segments — including Western north of Tucker to Road 7 and Road 7 east to Road I — that could be candidates for similar treatment.
Linehan and county staff also reviewed right-of-way extensions and property-owner fencing preferences tied to RCB (road) extensions, and said construction could occur in late spring or early summer if schedules hold.
On the masonry bridge southwest of Kismet, Linehan said it "looks pretty terrible" and recommended further evaluation and funding. County staff reported discussions with KDOT and Senator Moran's office; KDOT funding is not guaranteed and earmarked federal funds, if available, would not likely materialize until 2027. Staff noted that taking the old bridge into the county inventory would make the county responsible for removal, a cost the county has not estimated.
Commissioners asked staff to explore inspection and funding paths, potentially including bringing the bridge into the county inventory for a formal inspection and applying for KDOT funds.
Ending: Staff and Kirkham & Michael will continue coordination with KDOT, the railroad (which currently controls the bridge), and federal offices to estimate costs and funding timelines; commissioners asked for pricing and next steps to be returned for future meetings.