Stimulus money to rebuild south stretch of SR 195

Within the month, construction crews will be tearing up 8.6 miles of Highway 195 south of Colton in a federally funded project to resurface the highway.

From the south Colton city limits to the Washington/Idaho state line, the project calls for removal of the present surface, a new base layer and re-surfacing.

Poe Asphalt out of Pullman won the contract for the project with a bid of $2,014, 000.

The DOT is paying for the project from federal stimulus dollars granted to the DOT.

DOT spokesman Al Gilson said the aim is to stabilize the base of the highway to eliminate the existing patchwork and prevent more. He pointed out the maintenance project could not have been done without the injection of stimulus funds in the department’s budget.

The department used stimulus funds for projects listed at the top of their priority list. Funds left over after the first round made additional work, such as the 195 project, possible.

“It makes a smoother roadway. It preserves the base roadway beneath. It adds life to the whole base to the whole road,” said Gilson.

Gilson said the project is slated to begin April 26.

Uniontown Public Works Director Brandon Schell said the project will take an estimated 42 days to complete.

Ten days will be spent resurfacing the highway as it runs through Uniontown.

Schell said potholes litter the highway through Uniontown. City residents have complained they can hear semi-trucks clamor across the potholes at night, keeping them awake, Schell said.

Mark Culbertson, owner of Eleanor’s Corner Saloon, said he is glad the construction is coming to Uniontown. He said like any other road construction project, the construction will delay traffic through town for a time.

“We’ll get through it though,” he said.

The project specifications call for one lane of traffic to be kept open. Crews are expected to alternate work between lanes during the project.