Work crews begin sewer project repairs in Cabinet Heights

Construction crews were up in the Cabinet Heights neighborhood on Tuesday as they began repairing sunken spots on the new asphalt roads that settled after sewer construction last fall.

“We’re determining right now what needs to be done,” said Brian Edstrom, of Edstrom Construction of Rexburg, Idaho, the company that won the nearly $1.8 million contract two years ago.

Edstrom and two others were on foot along Golf Club Drive assessing the roads.

“We really don’t know how long this is going to take,” Edstrom said. “We’re thinking today, tomorrow and the next day, perhaps. I just really don’t know.”

Edstrom said his crews would be making road repairs and also venture into yards to fill areas where earth above the new sewer line connections also have sunken.

“We’ll do the streets and also get up into the yards in some areas.”

Meanwhile, Edstrom crews were three-tenths of a mile away using a gas-powered rotary saw to cut the asphalt so the earth underneath could be filled.

“We’ll be working for awhile,” said Abraham Acevedo, who identified himself as a foreman. “I guess there are about 30 manholes. It could take a couple of weeks.”

While Acevedo fired up a tractor and backed it down off a trailer, three other men were directing the man with the saw to sunken areas that had been clearly marked for cutting with white spray paint.

“You should go down the road and talk to the boss. He’s that way,” Acevedo said pointing in the direction of Edstrom.

Edstrom’s commitment to make the repairs came with great satisfaction to one resident in particular, Hubert “Bert” Ward of 176 Highwood Drive. Ward has been vocal in his criticism of the work, and he has written City Council members detailing his concerns.

   Ward contends an area about 35 square feet near a cleanout at his home has settled about “half a foot with several areas two feet deep.”

   On Tuesday, Ward said he has yet to see crews on his street, and walked out to the sunken area at the end of his driveway.

   “See how bad this is? You can break a tire on this,” Ward said holding the orange traffic cone placed by the city to mark the depression.

   “I think they’ll probably get here,” Ward said. “It’s my understanding they’ve got their staging area just down the road,” he said pointing toward Cabinet View Golf Course.

  Libby city officials and an engineering firm employed by the city urged Edstrom to repair the streets and sunken areas in yards.

  In a document obtained by The Western News, Ryan Jones, an engineer with Morrison Maierle, Inc., an engineering firm in Kalispell, sent a letter dated May 13 to Edstrom detailing his concerns with the project.

   In the letter, Jones writes of an inspection of the construction area on May 10 that “many deficiencies were observed with the majority of the problems appearing to be due to settlement both in the roadways and yards. Several areas could potentially pose public safety risks.”

   Jones continued: “We believe that it is in the best interest for all parties involved if your immediate action is taken to remedy these problems. I am writing to request your prompt attention to these matters.”

   Montana statutes mandate a response within 30 days, which Edstrom Construction has done.