Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
Serving Gogebic, Iron and Ontonagon Counties
CONSTRUCTION BARRELS line a section of U.S. 2 west of Saxon Wednesday as work gets underway on several culverts between Clement and Curry roads.
By RICHARD JENKINS
SAXON, Wis. - Drivers traveling on U.S. 2 near Saxon may notice some increased construction activity as work began on several culverts Wednesday.
The $879,203 project centers around three culverts between Curry and Clement roads west of Saxon, according to a Wisconsin Department of Transportation construction update, and is expected to run through mid-September.
Although no culverts will actually be replaced, according to the WisDOT update, two pipes will be receiving a liner and a third pipe will be abandoned in favor of a replacement pipe installed directly next to it.
WisDOT officials said the practice of inserting liners in existing culvert pipes helps extend their lifespan.
"Lining a culvert pipe is a process that allows for the rehabilitation of existing, deteriorating, culvert pipes without having to dig them up and replace them," said Jed Peters, a WisDOT project development chief. "A new plastic pipe will be inserted into the existing culvert pipe and is then anchored in place by a cement grout that fills the voids between the liner and the deteriorated pipe."
The plan also calls for riprap to be placed at the pipe ends and along the slopes to help prevent erosion.
The project also involves grading work for slope stabilization at the three locations and drainage trenches along the shoulder at two of the sites "to help prevent sloughing," according to WisDOT.
The project is expected to only minimally disrupt traffic, as "single-lane closures with flagging" will be in place for short periods to allow for workers to unload, load and move equipment and materials. Shoulder closures are expected to last through the project and remain during non-work hours.
