Crawford County awards $7.07 million resurfacing contract to Morris Asphalt Company

The Crawford County Board of Supervisors voted Feb. 20 to award a hot-mix asphalt (HMA) resurfacing contract to Morris Asphalt Company for $7,066,826.34. The project covers L-51 from the south corporate limits for roughly 15 miles to the intersection with Highway 307, county staff said.

Board members discussed a competitive bidding process, noting six or seven bids were received and that the top three bids were close in price. The board approved the award by voice vote after a motion to accept the low bid was made and seconded. The motion carried.

County staff told supervisors the project will be funded in part with the county’s federal fuel tax balance and by a Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) allocation of $500,000 to cover safety elements such as lighting and wider pavement markings. Supervisors discussed a local county contribution but did not state a precise local-dollar amount during the meeting.

Construction timing was described as weather-dependent; staff indicated a tentative start in June and said the contractor would perform typical trenching and overlay operations and might adjust quantities with the contract if conditions allow. Supervisors also discussed materials and edge sealing approaches to protect the new overlay.

The board’s approval authorizes staff to proceed with contracting and scheduling; no roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript beyond the voice vote and the chair’s announcement that the motion carried.