Update for December 14, 2007
Debco Construction is days away from submitting their complete alternate retaining wall proposal. FHWA’s geotechnical and structural engineers have begun reviewing some elements of the proposal, so things are moving along.
Just recently a Riggins resident asked about the strength or quality of the alternate wall – i.e., will the alternate wall be as good as the one in the awarded contract? The answer is yes. The alternate wall being proposed is a “shotcrete-faced anchor wall.” The anchor wall is structurally comparable to the wall design in the contract. It was considered during the design of the project, but was dismissed because of its higher cost. So what’s different now? Technology has improved and Debco Construction is an innovative and very capable company.
As mentioned in previous updates, if the alternate retaining wall is ultimately approved by FHWA, instead of week-long closures we would have daily closures. I’ve been gathering input from residents, outfitters, and Debco Construction, and I’m using that information to develop a daily closure schedule that accommodates everyone’s needs without extending the project duration. By December 20th, I should have a draft closure/delay schedule to present to everyone.
Gary Wrightman, FHWA’s Project Engineer for the Salmon River Road project, will host an update meeting Monday, December 17 at the Best Western in Riggins. Gary will provide information much like you’ve seen on this website, and he will be able to answer your specific questions.
Construction equipment may begin moving dirt the week of December 17th. Please use care when traveling through the project.
Jane Traffalis
Construction Project Manager
Western Federal Lands Highway Division
Federal Highway Administration
If you would like to provide a comment, click here: salmonriver@mail.wfl.fhwa.dot.gov