Culvert repair set for Penny Creek

Published 12:00 pm Friday, February 22, 2008

The city of Mill Creek’s public works department will repair the lining of three culverts along Penny Creek as it flows underneath Mill Creek Road.

The work, scheduled for later this summer, will entail placing a liner inside the three culverts to cover up rust and keep materials used to fill a sinkhole out. The culverts date from the 1970s, according to public works director Doug Jacobson.

A culvert is a pipe that allows a creek to flow underneath a roadway. Jacobson said a culvert is common with smaller streams, like Penny Creek, because they are cheaper to build and maintain than a bridge.

Last August, while repaving a portion of Mill Creek Road, workers discovered a sinkhole above the culverts, which was filled in. Repaving work was later completed.

Jacobson the work is not being done because of the Endangered Species Act, but will be done within the limits of the act.

Part of that process is getting a hydraulics permit from the state department of Fish and Wildlife that will allow the city to work alongside and in Penny Creek.

Mill Creek Road will not close during the work, which will take place in and alongside Penny Creek. Work is expected to be done in either August or September and should take approximately two weeks.

The project will cost an estimated $120,000, and the city expects to begin soliciting bids at the end of the month.