The Marion County Road and Bridge Committee has authorized County Board Chair Steve Whritenour to sign an addendum to a resolution requiring general contractor Alberici Corporation to pay $75,000 upfront and provide a $1.5-million bond to make repairs to the Hoots Chapel Road from U.S. 50 to Boone Street Road.
The road is being damaged by heavy truck traffic from the construction of the large solar project on 500 acres near Hoots Chapel and West Boone Street Road. An identical resolution was approved for Ameren which is constructing a nearby substation. However, they have indicated they will not sign the agreement and rely on Alberici to pay for any damage caused by truck traffic to the substation site.
So far, the contractor has not agreed to enter into a similar contract with Salem Township for damage to West Boone Street Road.
The committee was told the condition of the road would have to be checked constantly and likely will become gravel until the project is completed in about a year and a half. The road and bridge committee was told the road would remain passable for residents in the area who need to use it. Money from the bond will be used to rebuild Hoots Chapel Road after the project is completed.
