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Repaving, restriping set to start soon on county roads
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Repaving and restriping on some of Effingham County’s most difficult roads is expected to commence soon, after commissioners approved bids for work at their June 23 meeting.

Peek Pavement Marking was awarded the work to restripe 10 roads after submitting a bid of $76,759.26, and Carroll and Carroll will repave 14 county roads, totaling nearly 26.5 miles, after winning the contract with a bid of $4.1 million. The restriping and resurfacing projects are part of the short-term work program and will be funded by special local option sales tax proceeds.

Resurfacing will take place on Honey Ridge Road, Oliver-Kildare Road, Long Bridge Road, Little McCall Road, Log Landing Road, Old Dixie Highway, Wylly Road, High Bluff Road, Marion Avenue, Fair Street, Williams Avenue, Jabez Jones Road, Kolic Helmey Road and the Park West entrance. At more than $830,000, Old Dixie Highway’s work estimate is the most among the list of roads.

Carroll and Carroll has 180 days to finish the contract once it receives the notice to proceed, but Chairman Wendall Kessler wants to make Jabez Jones and Kolic Helmey roads a priority and have those roads finished before school starts. Jabez Jones, Kolic Helmey and Honey Ridge roads also will be widened.

The chairman also expressed his dissatisfaction with Carroll and Carroll’s work on the resurfacing of Blue Jay and McCall roads, particularly Blue Jay.

“I’m not happy with either one, especially Blue Jay,” he said. “I would appreciate the board approving the contract so we can move forward and let these folks know we’re going to be looking at the quality. We need to have a good heart-to-heart conversation with them.”

Savannah-based Carroll and Carroll was the lowest of three bidders. R.B. Baker was second at $4.3 million, and Preferred Materials was third at $4.56 million. The Carroll and Carroll bid also was $50,000 less than the county estimate for the work.

Commissioner Vera Jones said the company can be put on notice if its work isn’t up to the county’s liking.

“You can’t add a certain standard after the bid,” she said, “but what we can do is let them we’re not going to let them bid again.”

Kessler inquired if taking the company off the approved list of bidders could be done.

“I’m not saying don’t approve the contract,” he said. “But I get tired of spending taxpayer money and the work is not acceptable to me.”

Roads to be restriped are Sisters Ferry, Brogdon, Mock, Ralph Rahn, Friendship, Silver Hill Church, Reedsville, Old Louisville, Harry Lindsey and Meldrim, a total of nearly 25 miles.

Commissioner Reggie Loper urged restriping for Stillwell-Clyo Road, even if it means not resurfacing Springfield-Stillwell.

“I’ve been complaining about this a long time,” he said. “You can’t hardly see the stripes at night. It’s been needing it for a long time.”