Atlas Twp.-It should be a smooth ride through the township over the next year thanks to an aggressive road program.
An original budget of $130,000 for road repair and upgrades coupled with an additional $500,000 and a good price on limestone sparked township officials to move forward on ten projects to be completed over the next 15 months.
‘The county had the ability to perform the road work and we needed to take advantage of that,? said Barry June, township trustee. ‘We used some dollars from the township fund balance to get after some road jobs. We’ve been tight with our money over the years and aim to improve the community. Taxpayers can get some value from their tax dollars.?
June said that some of the projects are part of a 10-year road plan.
‘Many of the roads repaired may not be well traveled, but still, they are in the plan. If a resident’s road has not been done, it may be done in the future. Some of the roads like Green, McCandlish and Horton are through, more heavily traveled roads and may require more work. Over the next four years more roads will be maintained. Years from now, later generations will have less expenses on township roads if we keep them up now.?
Tentative road work in the township over the next 15 months:
nGreen Road will be limestone between Ridge and Gale roads along with crack-filling on the paved section in 2012.
nA two-inch asphalt cap on Ridge Road near Lake Shinanguag along with ditching on the eastside (2012).
nLimestone on McCandlish Road between Gale and Irish roads (2011).
nA two-inch asphalt cap on McCandlish between Irish and Vassar roads (2012).
nLimestone Horton Road between Gale Road and M-15 (2012).
nDrain tiles to help alleviate potholes on Horton Road near M-15 (2012).
nTree removal, ditching and six inches of gravel on Henderson Road between Green and Kipp roads (2010).
nLimestone and ditching on Washburn Road between Green and Hegel roads (2011).
nDitching, gravel and trees removal on Maple Road between Stimson and Washburn roads (2012).
nTree removal, ditching and gravel between Irish and Vantine roads (2012).
‘This plan is tentative, there could be other factors that could change.We’ve completed Washburn Road,? added Shirley Kautman-Jones, township supervisor.