Construction Workers Hurry Before Storm

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Story Published: Dec 14, 2009 at 10:11 PM PDT

By Molly Kelleher

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TRI-CITIES -- More snow could be on the way and that has construction workers hurrying to get your roads patched up before the storm hits.

Action News is keeping tabs on how the weather is affecting more than just snow on the roads. It's keeping construction cones out longer.

Construction came to a standstill last week with record lows.

This week on First Street in Richland, work has started back up but maybe not for long.

"They make decisions daily to weekly about when to work so that they're on top of it," said Pete Rogalsky, Richland Public Works director.

If it's too cold they can't pave or pour concrete. But when they get a break in weather like this, they take advantage by working sewer lines and prepping underground utilities.

"We knew going in to this project that is was going to span the winter and involve unworkable days so our schedule is to finish later in the spring," Rogalsky said.

Rogalsky said that despite the weather delays, the project is still coming in on time.

But that's not the case in Kennewick.

Crews were busy along Fourth Avenue on Monday trying to put temporary patches on manholes.

It's too cold for a permanent fix, so this will have to do until spring.

Patching these holes means crews can take down cones.

"It is kind of like driving in a pinball machine and people are bouncing off cones so it's gotta get buttoned up to get it safer for the public," said contractor Mel Roth.

The Fourth Avenue work was supposed to be done by now, the city was trying to avoid working through the winter.

But too much unexpected work put them behind. Now their pace is up to Mother Nature.

"I guess we got some weather coming in -- snow and rain. So we want to get this done so if it snows tonight we don't care because this will be done," Roth said.

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