By Patricia Bogumil
Editor
For those who haven’t noticed, be advised that work continues along the Highway 164 reconstruction project in Tichigan.
The project had been targeted for completion last month, but then some problems arose.
Crews are now out fixing an area that developed a shoulder failure and shifting soil problem.
Waterford Town Chairman Tom Hincz has been meeting frequently with Department of Transportation personnel about the work.
He said he understands the repair work involves putting in steel piles about 10 feet below the excavated grade from the original job, then removing the asphalt.
Most of that work – about 300 feet – is on the west side of the highway in the area of the marsh.
But both sides of Highway 164 will need to be torn up, Hincz said, adding: “We’ll be driving on gravel again.”
Tuesday morning, Michael Pyritz, a DOT regional communication specialist, said the sheeting work on the west side of the highway was completed.
About 50 feet to 75 feet on the east side also needs to be shored up, he said. An underground pipe that had been damaged was also repaired on Monday, Pyritz said.
Plans are to keep one lane open to traffic, with temporary control signals operating north and south of the construction.
The target completion date being discussed calls for the repairs to be done sometime in December, Pyritz said, cautioning the timetable depends on scheduling, availability and weather. “Certainly Mother Nature has a lot to say,” Pyritz said.
Snow events like the one that swept through Dec. 8 are not really work-zone weather, he added, and adjustments then must be made.
“We have a checklist of items we need to have time to do; it’s a matter of grinding through and making sure of having a quality product when through,” Pyritz said.
As for clearing snow-covered gravel lanes, “You can plow gravel,” Pyritz added – something he said is done regularly in northern counties.
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