More mudslide work coming

"Get ready for additional closures of State Route 166 at Ross Point this summer while workers brace the hillside further, state transportation officials say.Amity Trowbridge, a Department of Transportation mudslide control engineer, said paperwork clearing the way for the $1 million slide-proofing projects is almost complete. A contractor is expected to be awarded the job by July 6, with work beginning early in August.According to Trowbridge, the complete closure of SR-166 is expected to last three weeks, with laborers working six days a week on the project.Officials estimate that 18,000 car trips are made daily on the highway. Trowbridge said the work schedule is aggressive, one in which two jobs will be completed. The project involves building a rock buttress and drainage system similar to, but smaller than, slide-repair efforts completed by Seattle-based Scoccolo Construction at Ross Point last year. DOT says this time, the project will fix the unstable hillside facing Sinclair Inlet between Ross Point Creek and downtown Port Orchard. That section, at which a rock buttress will be formed, is about 260 feet long where hill meets roadway. Designs also call for installing several horizontal drains to rid the soil of excess water.Also at Ross Point Creek, a contractor is expected to cut the slope back and haul away excess dirt. A youth group with the state Department of Ecology will install landscaping after the contractor finishes, Trowbridge said.Eighty percent of the project is being funded with federal matching grants, and the state is expected to make up the remaining 20 percent. Trowbridge said the project is expected to go out to bid by June 19."

Comment on this story.

COMMENTING RULES: We encourage an open exchange of ideas in our online community, but we ask you to follow our guidelines for respecting community standards. In a nutshell, don't say anything you wouldn't want your mother to read. Please see our FAQ if you have questions or concerns about using Facebook to comment.