Wright County opts to apply for STBG funding to rebuild segments of R 38 using concrete (Option 1)

Wright County supervisors voted March 9 to submit a Region 5 Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG/STP) application for Option 1 to repair segments of R 38, after an extended presentation and discussion of alternatives.

The county engineer (speaker 4) reviewed four options for R 38 and related segments, including concrete crushing-and-replace work and various asphalt approaches. He cited estimated federal STP funding of about $2,200,000 for one option and explained that the project would be supplemented with farm-to-market funds as needed. "STP dollars estimated at $2,200,000," the engineer said when summarizing regional funding estimates.

Option 1 would crush in place, install a geogrid and place 8 inches of PCC (concrete) paving in targeted sections; staff said that method raises the road about 6 inches, is designed for heavy truck traffic and typically yields a longer service life than asphalt. "Concrete will last longer than asphalt," the engineer said, adding that concrete generally offers a 30–40 year life compared with about 20–25 years for asphalt.

Board members raised staging and access concerns for affected businesses, particularly Gold Eagle Cooperative north of town, and discussed contract completion dates to limit prolonged closures. The engineer proposed completion deadlines and staged construction to preserve interim access.

After discussion, a supervisor moved and the board approved a resolution to submit the STBG application for Option 1 (Resolution 2026-10 in the packet). The board recorded a roll-call vote and the chair announced the motion carried. Staff will finalize application documents and the required design sections and submit the packet by the program deadline.

County staff noted some maintenance could still be scheduled for other R 38 segments in later years, and that federal and farm-to-market funding mixes would determine which portions receive which treatments and in what years.