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Work to replace South Wenatchee stormwater pipe begins Oct. 21

UPDATE (NOV. 12): The county's contractor is paving a portion of the project, from the intersection of Boodry Street south to Squilchuck Creek. The intersection of Boodry Street and South Wenatchee Avenue will be temporarily closed around noon on Nov. 12 for paving. It will be re-opened when paving is completed.

UPDATE (NOV. 7): The intersection of South Wenatchee Avenue and Boodry Street will be closed for two days (Nov. 11-12) so the contractor can excavate and install new stormwater pipe. Once the contractor completes the work in the intersection, vehicles will again be able to use Boodry Street. The closure will be in effect only from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.; the roadway will be re-opened at night. 

 

ORIGINAL (POSTED Oct. 17): A contractor for Chelan County begins work on Monday, Oct. 21, replacing a failing stormwater pipe on South Wenatchee Avenue, near Boodry Street.

About 650 feet of stormwater pipe will be replaced. Heavy rains this summer caused sinkholes to form along the deteriorated pipe, exposing the problem. The work is in the vicinity of the conveyance system’s trunk line, or the main stormwater culvert that runs through that area.

Chelan County commissioners on Tuesday awarded a $207,853 contract to J&K Earthworks of Rock Island. The project is expected to take 20 working days.

During the project, two portions of the road will be closed in separate phases. The contractor on Oct. 21 will begin working from Squilchuck Creek north to Boodry Street. That portion of South Wenatchee Avenue has been closed since early July and will continue to be closed while the contractor works on the first phase. A detour route will be in place via Boodry Street.

After the pipe is laid, the road will be re-opened and the closure will move to the portion of South Wenatchee Avenue from Boodry Street north to Malaga Highway. A detour route will be in place via Malaga Highway and South Wenatchee Avenue. That second closure is anticipated to begin Nov. 4 and to be in place for 10 days; however, the work schedule is subject to weather conditions and other potential impacts.

Driveway access will remain open for people living along the project area. Motorists are asked to avoid the area if possible or plan to use the detour routes around the work zones.

In September, commissioners declared an emergency situation following two summer storms that caused stormwater culverts to fail on South Wenatchee Avenue and Burch Mountain Road. The emergency declaration allowed Chelan County Public Works to waive the competitive bid process to get a contractor on board as soon as possible. Bids on the project were received from four contractors.

When the first sinkhole on South Wenatchee Road appeared, Public Works closed the road near the bridge over Squilchuck Creek for the long term, with the goal to move up construction on a grant-funded project already planned in the area. The Surface and Stormwater Management Utility last year received a $755,000 grant from the state Department of Ecology to replace the stormwater pipe in this area in 2021. The project, which is under design, will not only improve stormwater conveyance along South Wenatchee Avenue where the sinkholes are but also improve water quality flowing into Squilchuck Creek.

Commissioners decided to replace the stormwater pipe along South Wenatchee Avenue before the grant funding is available.

Last Updated: 08/24/2021 09:04 AM

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  • 18
    Dec 2024
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    Hearing Examiner - December 18, 2024

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    Planning Commission - December 18, 2024

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    Chelan County Civil Service Commission

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    The Chelan County Civil Service Commission will be meeting on December 11, 2024.

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    Public Meeting: Public Canvassing Board Meetings

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    The Canvassing Board of Chelan County, pursuant to RCW 29A.60.160, will hold public meetings at the dates and times listed below. The meetings of the Canvassing Board are open, public meetings under the applicable provisions of chapter 42.30 RCW, and each meeting shall be continued until the activity for which the meeting is held has been completed.

    Chelan County Auditor’s Office