Paved Roads Project moving along nicely
Photo by CHANSE WATSON Construction crews repave Copper Street in Mullan in 2016. Though this project has since been completed, there are still more roads around the Silver Valley set to be worked on.
KELLOGG — Did you miss the road construction of last summer, Silver Valley? If so, you’re in luck because the Shoshone County Paved Roads Program is set to begin as soon as the weather gets consistently warm.
For those who did not miss it, the good news for you is that it is almost done.
The Paved Roads Program has funded more than $30 million in paved roads reconstruction projects through 2017 and more than $8 million is planned for 2018 (this includes carry over work in Kellogg, Wallace and Shoshone County).
In total, 437 segments out of the approximately 600 eligible segments in the program have been completed.
Dan McCracken with the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality explained how the segments were determined.
“The list of eligible roads is based on specific portions of roads that were identified in the Silver Valley Transportation Plan,” McCracken said. “For example, an eligible segment in Kellogg might be listed as, ‘Mullan Avenue from Oregon Street to Hill Street,’ Some segments are as short as a single block, and some are over two miles long.”
McCracken stressed the importance of getting the projects finished, for both health and convenience purposes.
“Completing these projects is important because our paved roads serve as an important part of the barrier system to contaminated soils. When the asphalt breaks down, people can get exposed to lead in the dust and mud from beneath the road surface. Completing the paved roads program helps reduce that risk,” McCracken said. “There is also a real burden on the community during construction of these types of projects. People have to deal with road closures, detours and construction noise. It impacts neighborhoods, businesses and local events. Everyone is eager for the work to be finished and to enjoy the benefits of the new roads.”
The following are the amount of funds allocated per location for this year’s work, as well as the areas that have been completed:
- Mullan — Eighth Street is the last remaining eligible road and will be completed in coordination with the Tiger Creek Remedy Protection Project. The program will be complete after this project.
- Wallace — Approximately $600,000 planned for 2018.
- Shoshone County — Approximately $3 million planned for 2018.
- Osburn — Approximately $500,000 planned for 2018. The program should be completed this year.
- Kellogg — Approximately $4 million planned for 2018.
- Wardner — Program complete.
- Smelterville — Program complete.
- Eastside Highway District — Program complete.