Keith County asks state to reclassify Lakeview West; opens bids for Lakeview Road resurfacing

Keith County commissioners voted to ask the state to reclassify Lakeview West from a local road to a “scenic/recreation” classification and opened competing bids for Lakeview Road resurfacing, a county staffer and the county’s engineer said. The reclassification request will let the county design the road to a lower design speed and narrower standards than a local paved road, officials said. The board approved a resolution asking the state for the change. Later in the meeting county engineers opened sealed bids for resurfacing Lakeview Road; Warner Construction of Hastings was the apparent low bidder at $1,732,250.86. Commissioners did not make an award at the meeting and directed staff to tabulate bids and return with a recommendation. Oak Creek Engineering’s Lance Harder explained the reasons for the reclassification request and the resurfacing approach. He told commissioners that classifying the road as “scenic/recreation” would let designers use a lower design speed than the 55 mph local standard and avoid extensive right-of-way and pavement-width requirements. Harder said the team plans “trench widening” — widening the existing pavement about two feet on each side — to provide a paved shoulder while staying within county standards. The board adopted a resolution authorizing submittal of a study and empowering county staff and the engineer to sign follow-up paperwork. At the bid opening later in the meeting, county staff said four firms held plans and no addenda were issued. Warner Construction submitted the lowest total: $1,732,250.86; other bids ranged above $2 million and the county’s engineer’s estimate was about $2.27 million. Commissioners and staff said they would convert the bids into a formal tabulation, review compliance with contract documents and return with a recommendation; the board noted the contract documents allow 30 days for award consideration. No contractor was selected at the meeting. Why it matters: Reclassification affects what design standards and right-of-way the county must meet, which can reduce cost and speed delivery for a road that county staff and the engineer described as increasingly a tourist route. The resurfacing bid results will determine near-term work on Lakeview Road, but commissioners deferred any award until staff completes the bid tabulation and recommendations.