It may still be spring, but the Barton County Road and Bridge Department is thinking about its summer road maintenance program. In keeping with this, the County Commission Monday morning approved a bid with Venture Corporation of Great Bend for the 2016 asphalt mix program. 

Venture Corporation provided the only bid at $7.43 per ton, which is the same price they charged last year. The bid specified approximately 25,000 tons of cold mix asphalt material, with the county furnishing all aggregate and asphalt oil.

Using county specifications, the contractor is required to mix asphalt at the county pit on South Washington in Great Bend, Road and Bridge Director Phillips said.

Phillips said Venture will start in the latter part of May and be done by sometime in June. The asphalt will then be delivered county crews to work sites for patching and overlaying.

The 25,000 tons will cover about 42 miles of road, Phillips said. It will likely be used up by mid July.

After that, Phillips said his department will begin road resealing work. They plan on resealing about 100 miles this year, but the actual amount will depend on the cost of oil.

The county has about 389 miles of paved roads that are maintained on a rotating basis.