By Brian Kelly
Herald Writer
CAMANO ISLAND — Travelers using the road near the Rocky Point boat launch may face minor delays later this month as construction crews dig deep into the dirt next to Maple Grove Road.
Geologists will study the land along the north Camano Island road, where Maple Grove Road passes along a bluff and leads down to the waterfront. The exploratory drilling and sampling begin Aug. 9.
The work is expected to take a week and may result in minor traffic delays, according to Randy Brackett, engineering manager for Island County. A section of Maple Grove Road east of the boat launch parking lot will be affected.
The county expects the investigation to help determine what repairs will be necessary to stabilize the road. Mother Nature has been taking a slow but steady toll on the road. One section of the road has been limited to a single lane of traffic because of an active slide area.
"There are sections of the road that slipped away," Brackett said.
The upcoming work is a second phase of roadway analysis. Last year, engineers determined that a series of short road segments were failing due to a number of different conditions along the bluff. Roughly four sections of the road, along a stretch of approximately 700 feet, have been affected, Brackett said.
Construction to fix the problems could begin in August 2002, if design and right-of-way processes go smoothly. Although an accurate estimate of repairs can’t be calculated until the geological analysis is complete, county officials expect the repair work to cost around $900,000.
Construction bids also are being solicited for drainage improvements at the west end of Maple Grove Road. The work is expected to include installation of a deep catch basin and directional boring out into the tidelands to control and direct storm-water runoff. Construction isn’t expected to begin until September.
You can call Herald Writer Brian Kelly at 425-339-3422 or send e-mail to kelly@heraldnet.com.
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