Drivers Urged to Be Prepared for Fourth Plain Delays and Blandford Detour Next Week

Contacts:

Fourth Plain Microsurfacing: Charles Fell, Construction Engineer, Construction Services, 360-487-7750

Blandford Drive Sewer Maintenance: Mitch Moore, Wastewater Superintendent, Operations Center, 360-696-8771

Recent rain has pushed back equipment schedules and the night road work planned for Fourth Plain, now set for Monday evening, Sept. 14, to Wednesday morning, Sept. 16, providing the weather cooperates.

The scheduled nighttime "microsurfacing" of Fourth Plain, from Fort Vancouver Way to Falk Road, is being done between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. over two to three nights to minimize traffic impacts. Weather is the biggest factor in scheduling, and rain could force a change in plans again. Drivers should check the electronic message boards posted near the project for the latest schedule updates.

Though Fourth Plain is expected to remain open during the work, drivers should be prepared for significant delays. Driveways and intersections fronting that portion of Fourth Plain will be closed for at least 20 minutes while the operation passes by. Drivers, bicyclists and pedestrians must remain off the treated road surface until given the signal to proceed. Where possible, drivers are urged to take a different route and avoid the construction zone.

BLANDFORD DRIVE CLOSED SEPT.14-18 FOR SEWER MAINTENANCE

Blandford Drive will be closed from East Fifth Street to McArthur Boulevard, Monday, Sept. 14, through Friday, Sept. 18, for sewer maintenance and repairs. The closure will also affect East Evergreen Boulevard ramps to Blandford.

While the sewer work has Blandford closed, City of Vancouver crews will also be carrying out street repairs and maintenance to minimize future impacts. Electronic message boards will be posted to alert drivers to the temporary closure. Andresen Road and Grand Boulevard will serve as optional routes.

PAVEMENT MANAGEMENT

The microsurfacing work, to be performed by contractor, Intermountain Slurry Seal, Inc., is part of the City of Vancouver's annual Pavement Management Program. Microsurfacing is the fastest-curing process available. It is a paving system -- not the same as asphalt -- that begins as a coarse liquid application of aggregate, asphalt emulsion, water and fillers, and is applied to existing pavement by a special machine. The surfacing is very sticky until it dries a short time after the application. As the product cures, the surface becomes smoother. The finished sealant forms a thin shell over the street surface, providing a cost-effective maintenance that extends the life of the underlying pavement. Slurry sealing traditionally alternates, every other year, between east and west of Interstate 205. More information about Vancouver's Slurry Seal Program and microsurfacing is available at www.cityofvancouver.us/slurryseal.

Vancouver also has an annual program for street overlays -- paving 1 to 3 inches of asphalt for additional load carrying capacity -- traditionally done citywide. Overlays are also taking place in September. Except for Ellsworth Road and Southeast 10th Street, all streets scheduled for overlay in 2009 are east of Interstate 205. The overlay schedule may be viewed at www.cityofvancouver.us/overlay. Properties fronting streets scheduled for pavement management receive a notice with information about when to expect the work to occur and other details.