$295,000 put towards paving and two new culverts
AUTRAIN -- After six weeks of work, the Rock River Road project in Alger County is almost complete.
The $295,000 construction will feature two new culverts to improve the stream quality. Funding from the project was provided by recovery money that was given to the US Forest Service. They teamed up with the Alger County Road Commission to make the project a reality.
"This is a road commission roadway, and the forest service also has an interest in this. We call them joint jurisdiction roadways, and we have the labor and equipment and everything required to do this type of work," explains Engineering Manager Bob Lindbeck of the Alger County Road Commission.
Not only will drivers notice a much smoother drive as they head into the forest, but the project is also helping to enhance the fish habitats in the area.
"These culverts are in keeping with aquatic organism passage standards, so that fish and other aquatic organisms are able to go upstream as well as downstream through these culverts pretty much no matter what the water level," describes Hiawatha National Forest's Public Affairs Officer, Janel Crooks.
Installing the culverts and paving the road has created a lot of work for the road commission. It's also resulted in some new jobs.
"We have replaced our seasonal snowplow drivers this summer with the work we've had with the Forest Service on this project and the Buck Bay Road project. We've retained almost six employees for the duration," says Lindbeck.
The final step of the project is to put guard rails over the two culverts. Officials say that should be completed in the next two or three weeks.
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