Ephrata project past deadline

EPHRATA - Construction on the final phase of Ephrata's street and water pipe project is expected to be substantially complete by Friday.

Yakima-based Chinook Winds ran out of time to finish the work last Friday, with the contractor still needing to pave three sections of road, including a portion of Division Avenue and Second Avenue Northwest. The contractor still needs to raise the manhole and valve covers so they are level with the asphalt.

A decision by the contractor to move their manpower from the project delayed them finishing, City Administrator Wes Crago said.

The city sent out its final notice to the public on construction in September, according to city records.

The contractor may pay a fine until the project is declared substantially complete, Crago said. Once the city declares it substantially complete, it triggers a new time line when city officials and engineers will examine the work.

Crago said the contractor has three sections of street to pave. The project's specifications allow asphalt to be poured as long as the temperature is 40 and rising.

Chinook Winds was hired this year to finished the fourth phase of the city's road and water pipe replacement project. The company was the low bidder at $2.2 million, and was recently formed by a person who had worked for MRM Construction.

The city received a $2.7 million state Public Works Assistance Account loan, and received 15 bids for the project, with the highest bidder being $3.8 million.

The city did three independent reports on the contractor, Crago said when the company was selected in March. The first report involved a search for any lawsuits or negative incidents.

"Nothing came back in that," he said. "Our public works staff traveled to the site for a face-to-face inspection of their yard (and) their equipment in Yakima. The principal has 36 years of experience doing this kind of work."

People gave good reviews of the company's principal's prior work, Crago said.