Saltzman Road Project update

Now that the Saltzman Road Improvement Project is fully underway, we asked Washington County Project Manager Matt Costigan to help us understand the schedule. He’ll be sending regular updates, which will be posted on a page linked from the home page of the News (cedarmill.org/news near the top of the page in the light green box). The county will also be sending out postcards with schedule updates to approximately 7000 residents.

Northwest Earthmovers, Inc. is the general contractor for the project. They’re the same folks who are just finishing up the Murray Road project. The “clearing and grubbing” is done and sediment fences and “bio-bags” to slow runoff have been installed along the length of the project.

The next activity will be to remove the retaining wall on the east side of Saltzman and excavate for the underground utility vaults. Utility (telecommunications and electrical) conduits will be installed and the poles and overhead cables will be removed. Delays in that part of the operation, which was done last on the Murray project, frustrated many drivers. “That’s whey we’re doing this first,” Costigan notes. “We have to get the poles out of the way before we can continue.”

A temporary barrier will be installed along the driveway on the west side of the Milltowner (Walgreen’s) Shopping Center, which will stay open during construction. Parking along the driveway will be eliminated when the project is done, but the driveway will allow two cars to pass.

Many drivers who use Saltzman have been wondering why the 25-mph speed limit starts so far north of the current work. One person asked if the limit could be imposed only during project hours. Costigan responds, “the road surface will be disturbed through installation of new or relocated utilities and a new storm system, and the crossings temporarily patched until final paving’s operations. The speed reduction is for the benefit of the driver’s safety as well as the safety of the construction workers. The first sign on the north end of Saltzman is an advanced warning. The lowered limit is in effect from Bauer Woods Drive, which is the northern end of the project.”

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