City acknowledges state DOT cost share request for asphalt

The state Department of Transportation presented a written request to the city of Madison to share in the cost of a portion of the Washington Avenue project.  City Engineer Chad Comes told Madison City Commissioners Tuesday that the DOT is installing temporary asphalt in areas of intersecting streets that haven’t been completed and several business accesses. 

He said the DOT is citing several reasons for the delay in the contractor having the project completed further by this point, and is asking for the city to pay for half of the costs for the temporary asphalt.   

Comes told commissioners he doesn’t think the city should be responsible for helping to pay for the temporary asphalt.  

Comes said he consulted with the City Attorney and said that there is nothing in the city’s agreement with the DOT for the project that obligates the city to go along with the DOT’s request. He said that along with the extreme summer weather, the DOT also cited issues with the railroad in delaying the project.  Commissioner Mike Waldner said that should not have been an issue. 

Commissioner Bob Thill also said that he would’ve liked to have seen those hired to work on the project working later or on weekends when the weather was conducive to get things completed sooner.  

The commission acknowledged the DOT’s e-mail request for cost sharing for the temporary asphalt, but did not take any action on it.