The Dunn County Board of Supervisors approved additional money in 2024 to begin an accelerated road improvement project, and it paid off in 2025, county officials said.
Dustin Binder, Dunn County Highway Commissioner, said his department completed 16.07 miles of Highway improvements in 2025, a 31 percent increase from the 12.28 miles completed in 2024 and a far cry from the 8.18 miles completed in 2021 and 10.68 miles in 2022.
“The County Board decided to bond extra funds for highway maintenance because we were falling behind,” Binder said. “Roads have a lifespan of 20 to 25 years, and we want to get county roads as close to that replacement schedule as possible.”
Binder added: “We have done more road construction projects than we normally completed to get on 20- to 25-year replacement cycle. That is the ultimate goal.”
Three of the higher profile 2025 projects were a reconstruction project on Highway D from 420th St. to Highway K in Irvington; a reconstruction project on Highway D from Highway 25 to 816th Avenue in Tainter; as well as pavement replacement on Highway BB from Highway 12 to Highway 25.
Other projects completed were: Highway S (STH 170 to Highway N) 1.65 miles, pavement replacement; Highway G (Highway D to STH 25) 3.04 miles, pavement replacement; Highway Y (STH 25 to 350th St.) 1.76 miles, pavement replacement; ; Highway J (510th Ave. to 410th Ave.) 3.07 miles, reconditioning; Highway G (Highway BB to Highway D) 0.75 miles, reconditioning.
Binder said the County Board will be asked to support improving nearly 17 miles of county roads in 2026. The county has a total of 425 miles of roads, and it costs approximately $150,000 to resurface a mile of roadway, while pavement replacement costs $250,000-$300,000 a mile. The lifespan for resurfaced road is eight to 10 years; pavement replacing, 20 years; reconditioning, 20 to 25 years; and reconstruction, 20 to 25 years.
“We have had a lot of support from the County Board and administration,” Binder said. “They are willing to invest in road improvements.”
