Almota Road construction continues, ahead of schedule

COLFAX – The Almota Phase Four reconstruction road project is moving along despite weather conditions in the county.

Dean Cornelison, county assistant engineer, said progress on Almota Road has gone surprisingly uninterrupted given the storms that swept through the county on Sunday, May 17. He said with rock already done on the road, the rain did not affect the project much.

“They are able to get back out there and haul rock today, May 18,” Cornelison said.

As progress continues on Almota Road, Cornelison said work will begin outside the road closure area near Stevick Road. He said this will probably happen within the next few weeks and drivers should expect flaggers out on the road.

Closure of Almota Road was scheduled to last at least until July 31, but based on current construction progress, the road is expected to open by the middle of June.

“They are at least a couple weeks ahead of schedule,” Cornelison said. “As they continue to move south weather may slow up progress.”

He added that weather would be the only issue since they will be working in non-closure areas.

While rock has been laid on the majority of Almota Road, dirt still needs to be moved in the Klaus and Aeschliman Road areas. Cornelison said if these areas are wet and soupy some problems may arise in finishing this section of the project.

A large portion of this project was moving 200,000 yards of dirt on a stretch between Union Flat Creek to Stevick Road.