State wraps 195 projects; next projects set for 26

Work on the passing lane projects along Highway 195 between Colfax and Spangle have officially ended with some detail work remaining. The passing lanes and bridge deck projects were both done by crews from N.E. Degerstrom of Spokane.

Mark Allen, project engineer, said the passing lane project was marked substantially complete Oct. 18. He added tree plantings were done along one of the lanes north of Rosalia, and the trees will need to be checked for survival after a year before the books can be closed on the project.

A total of 326 trees were planted at the north end of the passing lane in the cut north of Babb Road bridge.

Four passing lanes were constructed this summer. The work was the second year of a Department of Transportation plan to add six passing lanes along Highway 195 between Colfax and Spangle.

Lanes last year were constructed along the northbound side north of Steptoe and along the southbound side south of Steptoe.

Lanes this year were constructed along the northbound side of the highway north of Thornton, north of Babb Road in Spokane County and north of Plaza.

A southbound lane was constructed south of Plaza.

Degerstrom contracted the project at $4,073,200 and began work April 30. The contractor on average had 25 people on their crews or with subcontractors on the project each work day.

Degerstrom also had the contract for replacing bridge decks at Steptoe and Rosalia for this summer. That job started March 26 and the substantial completion status was granted July 24.

The bridge rehab contract to Degerstrom was for $2,075,511.

Total cost of the two jobs with State DOT expenses added was more than $8.5 million, with $5,483,000 for the passing lanes and $3,100,000 for the bridges.

Traffic on the highway for the bridge decks was limited to one-way during the construction with control lights installed to alternate the direction of travel.

Allen said this second year of construction wraps up major work on the planning board for 195. The eastern district will now turn its attention to installing passing lanes along Highway 26.

Proposed passing lane sites for 26 include a westbound lane north of the Morley Road intersection west of Colfax and on the grade west of Dusty.

An eastbound passing lane will be west of Dusty beginning at mile 123, and east of the Filan Road intersection beginning at mile 126.7

At one point, east and west passing lanes are planned in the same highway section between miles 123 and 124, which will make Highway 26 a four-lane highway at that point.

Allen said planning for the Highway 26 projects is expected to begin in two years.