WM Public Works gearing up for spring

WM Public Works gearing up for spring

Warmer weather means time to get projects rolling

news@theeveningtimes.com

Sealing street cracks is on the work order for the West Memphis street department. The Public Works Commission heard reports on recycling and all things street and road related during its February meeting. As far as streets, roads, and bridges the key phrase was weather permitting.

First up was making the city street vacuum ready for service. The truck had been used to clean the Main Street district but fell into mothball status. With new interests from cycling tourists Councilman James Pulliaum wanted to revive the practice of keeping Broadway swept for the tourists peddling through town from the Big River Crossing and the Big River Trail to Marianna. Pulliaum expressed the street level tourist perspective.

“People will come a long way and we need to make that good first impression,” said Pulliaum.

“As spring rolls around in the next six to eight weeks,” said Chairwoman Ramona Taylor. “it would be nice to get the machine up.”

“We could probably run that thing down the bike trail too,” said Economic Development Director Phillip Sorrell.

Sorrell has been doubling as the City Engineer since his year end appointment to ED. Taylor thanked Sorrell for the double duty. He promised to order the machine tuned up and ready for service in time for the cycling season.

Next sorrell provided the update for Southland Drive extension between Ingram Blvd. and 7th Street north of the Interstate Interchange. Motorists will soon enjoy smooth sailing along the northern connector between the new hospital site and the truck stop area.

“Everyone is wondering when we are going to get the road open,” said Sorrell. “All the pavement is in place. The contractor has been running a profilograph (smoothness gauge) across the pavement. They’ve done milling to make the ride the smoothest possible. They are sawing and ceiling joints. What is holding us up is waiting on striping and sealing the shoulders.”

The rock base for the shoulders is in place and graded and await asphalt caps. Dry ground and warm weather are needed to work on the finishing touches.

The expected November finish date for the new road was missed and seasonal weather slowed the work down. Sorrell said first things first, the ground has to be dry enough for heavy equipment.

We’ve had temperatures sufficient to do the striping,” said Sorrell, “but we don’t want to do that until we get the shoulders done.

“The shoulder (work) is being held up by the wet sub grade. We need 8 days in a row of drying conditions to do that work. Again weather permitting, it will finish in mid to late March.”

Sealing the city streets is temperature sensitive, too. “Sealing the street is our spring priority,” said Sorrell. “We need temperatures above 50 to do it, but we’ve ordered the materials.

We’ve been cleaning ditches and leaves from the drains.”

By John Rech