By Ann McCreary
State transportation officials estimate it will take another three weeks to complete highway repairs that resumed last week on state Highway 153 south of Twisp and on Highway 20 west of Loup Loup Pass.
The repair work came to a halt in mid-October when a 30-day federal emergency grant ended. State transportation officials had to develop a new proposal and seek bids to complete repairs to the highways, which were heavily damaged during floods and mudslides in August.
A new contract was awarded last week to Pipkin Construction of Wenatchee, which will complete paving, guardrail installation and slope work on Highway 153 at Leecher Creek, Canyon Creek and Benson Creek.
A retaining wall constructed as part of the repairs at Benson Creek needs to be surfaced with concrete before water from the creek can be directed through a new culvert that carries water beneath the highway, said Kevin Waligorski, WSDOT project manager.
Final repairs at Benson Creek will include reinforcing the channel below the culvert with large rocks – called rip rap – to reduce erosion. Part of the channel remains off-limits to construction crews, however, because the adjacent property owner has refused access to his property.
The state has initiated condemnation proceedings to acquire the property to complete the repairs.
On Highway 20, crews will be doing more paving to smooth the road surface, and will be armoring roadsides with rip rap to prevent further erosion, Waligorski said.
