Dubois County Addresses Road Damage Following Harsh Winter

Dubois County Highway crews are tackling widespread damage from severe winter storms. 

Highway Department Superintendent Donnie Lueken reports that crews are making progress on road repairs after the recent freezing and thawing. All three districts will be “ripping and digging out soft and other bad spots from the hard weather and the age of the chip and seals.” Lueken asked the public to take note of Men Working signs and to slow down for the safety of the workers as well as the roughness of roads during repairs. 

The State will be closing State Road 145 between Birdseye and the interstate from April 13 through August 31. The closure will be in place while maintenance is performed in three locations. Official detours will have signs on the state roads, but an unofficial detour was also approved utilizing local roads. 

In a summary of paving and maintenance plan for 2026, Lueken said that 12 roads are on the list for hot mix at a cost of approximately $1.1 million. Additionally, 11 roads are slated for Rejuvtec repairs for $228,870. Roads are still being evaluated for maintenance needs. Affected roadways could require ripping and digging up and then installing a stronger base. This will determine how many roads the department can overlay with chip seal and if any of the roads planned for hot mix need to be removed from the schedule. The final list will be determined by April. The department will also be adding a new sanitation truck to its inventory, after an appropriation for the purchase was approved. 

The Highway Department will be continuing with Sansera for maintenance, after leaving their former provider, Verizon. Sansera is focused on technology-driven engineering, including AI- based solutions. Their services are used to check codes on the trucks and machines, including mileage, location, and other critical information. This allows for real-time reporting and can also verify whether or not roads have been serviced during inclement weather. If damage is reported from a county vehicle, it can also verify whether or not a county vehicle was present at that location. 

For more information, visit the Highway Department webpage at www.duboiscountyin.org 

- Drew Hasselbring