Johnson: Funding can't keep up with road projects

• County Highway W

This bridge on CTH W, south of Hwy. 29, is one of five bridges eligible for federal funding. -- Photo by Jason Schulte

Talk about it

At the finance and personnel committee meeting early last week, Pierce County Highway Commissioner Chad Johnson addressed the committee about current and future funding levels for the department.

He didn’t mince words.

“Regular levies can’t keep up with projects,” he said. “State funding can’t keep up with it…This has to be addressed.”

So, how bad is it, one asks? Johnson, along with highway staff and others, calculated the county is looking at a deficit of $40 million and growing to remain on average with road and bridge repairs each year.

And why this has to be addressed, Johnson said, is alternatives include going back to gravel roads, which he has heard or already seen in Wisconsin and Minnesota.

“I don’t want to be in that position,” he said.

So how did this $40 million figure come about? Johnson explains.

For more please read the Sept. 19 print version of the Herald.

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