Madison County supervisors received a quarterly engineering update Tuesday on multiple road projects, with consultants reporting completed design milestones, pending environmental reviews and right-of-way work that could push some construction starts into 2027.

The updates, delivered by consultants from Stantec, Garver, Michael Baker, Veil/Neil Schafer, Wagner, Benchmark and Pickering, covered projects across the county including Calhoun Station Parkway, Strickland Road (Highway 463 to Deweese), Catlett Road, Weisenberger Road and several segments of Yandell Road.

"This project consists of the reconstruction of Calhoun Station Parkway, roughly about 2 miles from Stout Road to Highway 22," Brad Ingalls of Stantec said, describing the Calhoun Station job. He said design is complete, bids came in under $7,500,000 and the county hoped to award the construction contract the same day. The board later awarded that contract to Hemphill Construction for $7,422,800.

Shannon Wells of Garver summarized work on Strickland Road from Highway 463 to Deweese and said the firm’s traffic analysis shows that a roundabout at Camden Crossing "will perform better than a signal." Garver’s supplemental agreement on the agenda covered roundabout design and right-of-way work; the board approved that supplemental agreement during the meeting.

Consultants also described schedule and permitting risks: Wells said the wetland report and Corps of Engineers permit application had been submitted about a month earlier and were pending review; she said the permit type (a nationwide permit) typically moves faster than individual permits but could remain on the project schedule’s parallel track.

Jay Stewart of Michael Baker reported that the Catlett Road segment is roughly 75% complete on drainage design and about three retaining walls are in preliminary design; he said the project’s right-of-way work would move into maps and deeds in coming months. On Weisenberger Road, Stan (Veil/Neil Schafer project representative) said the project has a federal environmental assessment and public meeting completed; the design includes raising a bridge about 5 feet for hydraulic reasons and the team expects construction to target 2029.

Wagner and Pickering engineers updated the board on multiple Yandell Road segments. Derek (Wagner) said design for the two Wagner segments is about 40% complete overall, that 73 parcels are identified for right-of-way acquisition (36 for the 51-to-Smithkart segment and 37 for Smithkart-to-North Oak Canton), and that utility coordination involves roughly 16 providers. Rick Ferguson of Pickering said his west Yandell project has 20 parcels and under 9 acres of total acquisitions; the east segment will require more mitigation due to soil conditions on about 30% of that alignment.

Lon Burt of Benchmark (reporting on North Old Canton/Yandell intersection improvements) said environmental and cultural reviews are underway and that the project is expected to qualify for a categorical exclusion; he estimated right-of-way acquisition for 7–10 parcels could take about six months once environmental approval is received.

Several consultants noted that federal review timelines (Corps of Engineers and other federal agencies) and utility relocations — particularly Entergy pole work — remain the primary schedule risks. Multiple presenters said, if permitting and utility relocation proceed without prolonged delay, construction bidding and starts for several projects could occur in early 2027.

The board asked questions about construction durations, potential overlap between neighboring projects and whether the county would bid segments together or separately; engineers said those decisions would be coordinated with county staff as designs mature.

The county’s engineering staff and supervisors closed the item by noting that many projects in the portfolio are county priorities and that the board should expect further supplemental agreements and right-of-way actions in coming meetings.