Airport Road work still stalled by weather

County public works officials and the contractor for the Airport Road project checked out the site last week to get some idea when work will start up again. Public Works Director Mark Storey said the project needs more time to dry out before work can resume.

Storey said the site probably needs two to three weeks to dry out. He added they found some signs of motorists who had attempted to get through the blocked off road segments and left mud pits.

The project was shut down late last fall because of winter conditions and interference from drivers who persisted in driving through the work zone when crew members were not present.

Storey said the project has advanced to different stages along its length with grading and rock fills done on the flat portion of the project on the west end. Cutting and filling work remains to be done on the Colfax end.

The work zone needs to dry out enough to support heavy equipment and loads operating on the site.

"If they get in there too early, they can do more damage than good," Storey commented.

M.A. DeAtley of Clarkston is the contractor on the project which extends approximately three miles. Their bid for the project was $2.6 million, although change orders could bump final cost over that amount.

Storey said the county hopes to have the road segment paved by the end of June or early July with some finishing work to follow that.

Access to the Colfax Airport from the Colfax side and to McGregors headquarters and the county shop from the fairground road intersection has remained open during the shutdown of the work zone.