LaSalle County approves multiple road and parking-lot contracts, citing urgent repairs

LaSalle County highway officials on the meeting agenda approved multiple construction contracts and paving projects, citing an urgent need to replace failing infrastructure and to proceed with planned 2026 roadwork.

The county accepted a low bid of $56,850 from McCann Concrete to replace a failing precast culvert in Hope Township; the clerk read two bids and a highway department official recommended awarding to McCann because the existing culvert is “pretty well shot” and could fail with heavy rainfall. The board moved and carried the award on voice vote.

Officials also reviewed five bids for the 2026 aggregate-shoulders project and recommended awarding the contract to low bidder Universal Asphalt & Excavating at $119,765.60. The clerk read the bid tabulation, and the board approved the award after members indicated assent.

Paving work for county facilities also moved forward. The county received two bids to pave the Emergency Management Agency parking lot near the courthouse; Universal Asphalt’s low bid of $28,384.02 was recommended and approved. For the forensic center parking lot, Advanced Asphalt Company’s low bid ($48,358.60) was recommended, with the award to proceed subject to concurrence from the property committee.

Several township pavement-striping, sealcoat and HMA resurfacing lettings were presented with low-bid recommendations (AC Pavement Striping and others). Department staff noted most low bids were below the engineer’s estimates; multiple motions to award these projects were carried. Where required, staff said awards would proceed pending concurrence from the highway commissioner or the property committee.

The highway official emphasized procurement rules, engineer estimates and the county’s responsibility for timely replacements: “It’s a little bit over the estimate, but we still wanna get that culvert replaced,” he said, noting the risk of losing the road and culvert in a heavy rainfall event. The meeting record shows motions to award were carried by voice vote for each listed project.

Next steps: staff will finalize contracts, obtain any required committee concurrences, and schedule the projects to begin as weather and contractor availability allow.