Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Judge: Road work slowed by rainfall

The Cale Road paving project has been turned over to the state, but Nevada County Judge Baker Butler said road work is being delayed because of the rain.

The project was a cooperative effort between the county and state and Butler said the county spent more than was originally expected.

The contract was higher than the original estimate, Butler said.

The original estimate didnt include overlay of the bridges. Butler said it became a matter of safety because there would have been bumps at the ends of bridges on the road. In addition, fuel and oil products have also increased in cost.

Everything has skyrocketed, Butler said.

He said the countys part of that increase was $9,000.

The county turned the project over to Jet Asphalt of El Dorado and that company had expected to begin work July 3. But rains pushed the date back over the course of the week. Butler said workers have been in the county several times, but rain sent the crews back.

Butler said the county crews are also having their share of problems because of the rain. Normal grading, gravel replacement and hauling has been interrupted because of the wet weather. There havent been any real problems, other than some minor washes and trees downed because of the saturated ground.

With regard to the county roads, he said, Theyre messy.

Butler said the county has planned to put pea gravel on Nevada 41 from Cale Road past Mount Caney Church and Nevada 31 from Highway 200 to Antioch Church. He said the county crews need about two months of good weather to accomplish those projects.

Thats what weve got planned, he said. If theres any more time and any more money, well do more.