Wednesday, May 26, 2004

Road projects delay traffic

Sun Valley trying to speed up projects

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By GREGORY FOLEY
Express Staff Writer

Three road-resurfacing projects being conducted in Sun Valley are expected to prompt some grunts and groans from motorists for at least three more weeks.

And, as residents gear up for the Memorial Day holiday, city officials are hoping for cooperation.

"We would really appreciate everyone’s patience as we go forward with this," said Street Superintendent Steve Cole. "The contractor will be out of the city by the Fourth of July."

Earlier this month, contracted work crews commenced a set of major infrastructure improvements that will cost more than $1 million to complete.

The primary projects include:

• Resurfacing Elkhorn Road from the southern end of Elkhorn Village to a point just south of the Morningstar Road loop.
  
   
• Resurfacing Camas Loop, a circular residential route on the north side of Morningstar Road.
  
   
• Resurfacing Old Dollar Road, which traverses from Sun Valley Road to Sun Valley City Hall.
  
   
• Replacing Old Dollar Bridge—which crosses Trail Creek south of Sun Valley Village—with a new, wider bridge and associated bike path.

City Administrator Jan Wellman said the resurfacing projects should be "substantially completed" by June 18. Contractors, however, have until July 1 to complete the projects in full.

Cole said construction crews have been instructed to keep one traffic lane open through each work area. However, delays of up to 15 minutes will still occur, he noted.

Cole said delays will likely start to taper off in approximately two weeks.

In addition to the four major projects, the city is planning to complete chip-seal applications to the southern and northern sections of Elkhorn Road.

Cole said reconstruction of the Old Dollar Bridge is scheduled to commence soon after the termination of the Sun Valley Summer Symphony on Aug. 16. The project is expected to endure for approximately three months.

Old Dollar Road will be closed during the entire duration of the bridge reconstruction.

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