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As the project manager for an extensive resurfacing project on Argonne Road in Millwood, Matt Gillis of Welch-Comer Engineers has been more like an ad-hoc member of the City Council for the past few months.
On Monday, Gillis appeared before the city’s governing board with a report on the final stages of the renovation that began in early May. The update included an announcement that the installation of new pavement could be extended north from Frederick to Buckeye up to the concrete intersection of Argonne and Trent – a portion that wasn’t guaranteed when construction first began.
Council Member Glenn Bailey was one of several city leaders who applauded the news.
“We definitely didn’t want a gap there,” Bailey said.
Gillis explained that the bonus work came about as the result of low bids at the beginning of the project. The city received a $1.3 million grant from the Washington Department of Transportation to address deteriorating conditions along Argonne.
Poe Asphalt Paving Co. was scheduled to level certain portions of the road this week in preparation for the final layer of asphalt to be poured by the main contractor, Red Diamond Construction. Meanwhile, Cameron-Reilly, the company brought on to install new sidewalks along the west side of Argonne, was wrapping up its part of the project this week.
Gillis said that while some aspects of the remaining agenda are still up in the air, he anticipated that the last phase of resurfacing would begin the week of Aug. 17. He added that certain traffic revisions will be back in place for a short time, including no left turns off Argonne.
“We’re working as diligently as we can with the contractor to help them with the schedule,” Gillis said.
The timeline for completion also takes into account a community celebration scheduled in downtown Millwood for Saturday, Aug. 29. The theme of “Taking Back Our Street” is scheduled to include participation of businesses along Argonne and a 5K run – all in recognition of the city’s refurbished thoroughfare. The Millwood Better for Business organization is coordinating the event.
“We’re going to be a walking community now,” said Shirene Young of the Inland Empire Paper Co., a member of the Better for Business group. “We can actually walk on our sidewalks all the way up to Trent.”
Municipal leaders, citizens and business owners in Millwood and the surrounding area first began addressing the Argonne upgrade two years ago with a corridor study and a series of public meetings.
In addition to the primary WSDOT grant, supplemental funding arrived later from the Transportation Improvement Board to help with sidewalk improvements. The city matched nearly $135,000 in TIB grants with a combined contribution of $15,600 along with another $23,000 to complete additional pedestrian work including curb extensions at Liberty and Bridgeport.
In other council news:
- Council Member Kevin Freeman was unanimously approved as mayor pro-tem.
- Mayor Dan Mork presented the latest reports from a traffic safety emphasis patrol that began the last week of May and will end with the completion of the Argonne resurfacing project. The city has hired representatives from the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office to monitor traffic along several streets of concern, including Empire and Fowler, for speeding and other violations. Mork said the patrol “has been effective” and generated recommendations from law enforcement about safety improvements.
- Mork announced a series of proposed landscaping upgrades around City Hall including a new irrigation system that will require less water. The project will also include safety railing around the building and by a stairway. June King, who represented the West Valley Sheriffs Community Oriented Policing Effort at the Aug. 3 meeting said seniors have had concerns about tenuous footing near the entrance of City Hall, especially during winter months.
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By
Craig Howard
