Crews from Blevins Asphalt Construction Co. Inc. were back on the job Tuesday, chip and sealing county roads after rock supply shortages and poor weather caused several weeks of delays.
According to Road and Bridge Supervisor Walter Snelson, the company was starting back to work by focusing on roads in the county’s 2,000 section.
Work was originally halted for 10 days early in July, because of a lack of rock material needed for chip and seal. Blevins’ trouble of securing a continuous rock supply, running down the stockpile the company expected to amass.
When work was suspended, the company had finished the majority of the 60 miles of road the county selected for improvements this summer.
After the 10 days expired, the county was hit with rain, which slowed down attempts to re-start work. Even on Tuesday, Snelson was still concerned the roads might be too wet from yesterday’s rain.
According to the National Weather Service in Springfield, the Rolla area has received 9 inches of rain in July — with 4 inches falling in the past week.
For now, the company has enough rock to finish the roads slated for improvement, but the weather factor could still complicate things.
Forecasts have estimated more storms moving into the area later in the week.
Phelps County —
