Weather disrupts Othello Main Street project

OTHELLO - Below-zero temperatures, snow and rain contributed to

roadway failures in the Othello Main Street construction

project.

Winter weather conditions temporarily suspended construction on the

downtown project on Nov. 22, according to city engineer Larry

Julius.

OTHELLO - Below-zero temperatures, snow and rain contributed to roadway failures in the Othello Main Street construction project.

Winter weather conditions temporarily suspended construction on the downtown project on Nov. 22, according to city engineer Larry Julius.

Project contractors, MRM Construction, resumed construction duties on Jan. 24, he said.

Julius explained moisture entered into the roadway near the intersections of ninth, 11th and 13th Avenues on Main Street and has caused cracking underneath the top asphalt layer.

The cracking is due to a process known as frost heave. When moisture entered the roadway, frozen temperatures caused the water to freeze and then warmer temperatures caused the water to thaw, cracking the asphalt.

Julius said cracking occurred in areas where contractors have not worked previously.

"It's actually a good thing that we've discovered these now rather than later," he said.

To help with the cracked roadway, construction workers will remove some of the failed roadway and replace it with compacted gravel and a dense fill material at the surface to support traffic while paving is being completed.

It takes two weeks to complete, according to Julius.

Weather conditions are also causing problems for crews trying to cover several large potholes throughout Main Street.

Construction crews are having a difficult time covering the potholes due to saturated roadways and constant temperature changes.

Sidewalk construction resumed Monday, according to the City of Othello.

Sidewalk construction should be completed in the next 30 days, with the exception of street corners that have new traffic signal poles.

Contractors are not repairing the sidewalks until new traffic signal poles can be installed.

In the meanwhile, project contractors are asking downtown Othello residents to not put rock salt on the new sidewalk because it is damaging to concrete.

The salt leads to the new concrete looking old before winter is over, according to Othello. The city asks residents to use sand to spread over sidewalks to help with slippery conditions.

City workers can provide a bucket of sand. For interested people, call Othello's Public Works office at 509-488-6997