“Currently, they are working to stabilize the hillside, so they are building the rock face of the slope,” she said. “Once they’ve got that stabilized, they will work to repair the pavement of the highway. After that, they’ll go in and put back the guard rail.”
To stabilize the hillside, the crew first had to excavate loose soil from the bottom of the hill and the creek below Pioneer. Next, the contractor built up the slope with rocks to make sure the hillside will stay put.
The contractor started work April 4, once WSDOT’s engineers fully studied the area, and they have 30 working days to complete the project. Greenwell said everything is on schedule to be completed. Once it is, Pioneer will return to a two-lane street.
One possible thing that could push back the project is weather, Greenwell said. The contractor needs dry weather, especially for paving and striping.
“If we get heavy rains, we have to delay the work and deadlines,” she said. “Thankfully, we’ve had really good weather. If that continues, the work should be done by the 13th.”