Summer seems to always coincide with construction of some sort. This summer the new Speyers Road construction will be the main construction project in Selah.
The aim of the project is to reconstruct about 3,600 feet of Speyers Road from west city limits to Fremont Ave., including widening of the road to 30-feet, curb and gutter, sidewalk on one side of the road, a storm drainage system and lighting, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
The design for the new road was completed earlier this month after the city received input from many residents on Speyers Road at a public meeting held May 27 at the Selah fire station.
“We tried to incorporate their needs into the design,” said Selah Public Works Director Joe Henne.
Fourteen residents attended the public meeting and Henne said he contacted others individually to let them know what would be coming in the near future.
He said the biggest piece of information residents need to know is that the city has the right of way on some of their property.
“We have the right of way up to 60 feet,” Henne said. “What you have grass or a planter on may not be your property.”
The city has finished the water and sewer lines but Henne said they’re keeping the road closed to just local traffic to keep everything running smooth.
Right now the city is waiting for final approval from the Federal Highway Administration to begin taking construction bids on the project. Yakima County and the WSDOT have both approved the Speyers Road design and Henne said he hopes to receive approval from the Federal Highway Administration this week.
After the Federal Highway Administration approves the design, Henne said the city would receive the funding for the construction and be able to move forward, hopefully awarding the contract by July 28.
The construction crew chosen will have up to two weeks to break ground.
Henne said the road itself should be completed by Nov. 1 but there may be a few minor things left to do above ground.
“For the most part the road should be open,” he said.