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The Washington County Commissioners approved a resolution establishing a priority of projects for the County Improvements to Roads and Bridges (CIRB) Transportation Plan for Circuit Engineering District (CED) #1 on Monday morning.

John Blickensderfer with Guy Engineering Services presented the item. Blickensderfer told the Washington County Commissioners where they stood in light of recent budget shortages. He said they're $200 million short over the past few years.

At the end of the five-year plan for Washington County, Blickensderfer said the County is about $1.8 million in the negative. Blickensderfer said projects couldn't really be added to the County's plan, but they could list the priority of which they wanted the projects currently listed executed. He said the CED #1 funds plans as they get ready, which is why it was important to approve the priority list on Monday.

Commissioner Mike Dunlap made note that the first project that was listed at Double Creek was awarded engineering in 2014. Dunlap said he then had a plan in hand in June 2016. Now Commissioner Dunlap finally has an environmental study in position and ready to go, but they're still a year out before a right-of-way and utility relocation can take place.

From start to finish, Commissioner Dunlap said it could be 10 years before the Double Creek project is completed. Commissioner Dunlap said he personally believes that it's absolute insanity for a project to take that long. He said it's because they're at the bottom of the barrel.

There are 11 other counties in CED #1. Blickensderfer said only two of those counties are in the positive side of the situation. He gave the Washington County Commissioners the option to wait to approve the priority of projects list, however, they were satisfied with how the list was presented on Monday.

The top three priorities / projects in Washington County are bridges. The other projects are primarily roadway projects.