The state Department of Transportation has come through with additional funding for the replacement of Russell Road culverts.
The Forks City Council approved awarding the city’s contract for the $600,000-plus project to construction firm Quigg Bros Inc. of Aberdeen.
Quigg’s low bid of about $459,000 for the project was higher than the engineer’s estimate for the project, necessitating the request for additional funding. Planning, engineering, taxes and other costs make up the difference between the total cost and Quigg’s bid.
Work is expected to begin within weeks, with an estimated completion by October.
A delay of about two weeks in firming up the bid award shouldn’t have much impact on the completion of the project over the summer, according to discussion at the council meeting. City of Forks Public Works Department head Dave Zellar was away at training the night of the June 25 council meeting. Mayor Bryon Monohon and City Attorney/Planner Rod Fleck discussed the issue.
State funding will cover about 85 percent of the cost of the project.
Fleck said the three firms bidding on the project all cited the long distance Forks is away from the materials to install the bridge-like concrete box culvert structure that will replace the aging, crumbling culvert structure under Russell Road. Once the concrete support is in place paving will be done and will allow to traffic to flow once again down all of Russell Road to Highway 101 heading east and to Bogachiel Road heading west. The redone road section will have a slight bend in it in order to fit the surrounding terrain.
The North Olympic Salmon Coalition has helped with pre-construction planning involving the flow of MIll Creek fish through the new structure.
The section of Russell Road that crosses the culvert has been closed for over a year while funding for the project was sought.
Tillicum Park
Park hours have been set at Tillicum Park. Summer hours are 5 a.m. to 11 p.m., and winter hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Officially stating the hours provides the Forks Police Department an enforcement tool and were set with teh advice of the city’s Park Board.
