14th Ave. street work ends in Othello
Dave Sperl Photo - Road construction workers apply the last of the pavement last week to the new 14th Ave. in the area of Wahitis Elementary School. All that was left to do was the striping.
OTHELLO — Parents who were having to re-route themselves taking their children to Wahitis Elementary School because of road construction on 14th Avenue could be back to their old routine as early as next week.
City Administrator Wade Farris said today he was out looking at the street Monday evening. All that remains to be finished is sealing man holes and the like against water and striping the lane and parking markers.
“It looks great,” Farris said.
It appears that the street could be re-opened by next week, Farris said. But he’s not promising. He is fairly certain it will be usable when students return from Thanksgiving break.
Actually, parents won’t go back to the old routine. It will be an entirely new, safer routine for vehicles and children.
The street has been widened, and a center turn lane has been added, and there are turn pockets. Student drop-off will be easier because of the reconstruction of the street.
The project included new water and sewer lines, new storm drains, parallel parking lanes on both sides and ADA-compliant sidewalks. There is a school access for buses and one for cars.
They paving started on Nov. 7. Some of the work, such as sealing, has been slowed by recent rains.