Othello contractors ask for 26 days

OTHELLO - Main Street project contractors asked for an

additional 26 days to work on the project from Othello

councilmembers.

The construction company, Ellensburg-based MRM Construction,

stopped construction for 39 work days, from Nov. 22 to Jan. 24, due

to winter weather conditions.

OTHELLO - Main Street project contractors asked for an additional 26 days to work on the project from Othello councilmembers.

The construction company, Ellensburg-based MRM Construction, stopped construction for 39 work days, from Nov. 22 to Jan. 24, due to winter weather conditions.

The additional days are meant to make up some of the time lost from November to January.

The addition does not change the price of the downtown beautification project, projected at $5.2 million, according to city finance officer Mike Bailey.

Gray & Osborne engineer Taylor Denny asked Othello city councilmembers to accept the project's third work order change.

Gray & Osborne acts as a liaison between the City of Othello and the project's contractors.

Councilmembers approved the project's extension.

Councilman Marc Spohr stated he was "beyond mad."

"It's getting to the point where it is so far off schedule, time is no longer the issue. I'd rather have it done right than not at this point," he said.

Under the new schedule, the Main Street project will be done by June 1.

The project will be completed in five phases.

The Main Street project started in July 2010 and was initially intended to be completed by December.

Contractors approached city council in early November and asked for an additional couple of weeks, putting the project's new completion date by Dec. 24.

The Dec. 24 completion date did not include inclement weather.

Several engineers from Gray & Osborne attended the last council meeting to provide a project update.

Office manager and engineer Morie Block stated the pavement was having moisture issues, with recent cold and warm temperatures entering into the asphalt.

"The roads are basically in three layers: you have the subgrade, gravel and pavement. The road is cracking from age and the oil inside is become brittle and not as strong as it was in the past," said Gray & Osborne engineer Scott Smith.

Engineers estimate some parts of the roadway may be 40 years old.

Block said asphalt typically lasts for 12 years, without any type of maintenance.

Contractors plan to lay a mesh-like material between the gravel and two inches of asphalt in a city parking lot, according to Block.

The material would prevent some of the road from cracking, he said.