Front Street project nearing completion

If all goes according to plan, the Wrangell Roads Improvement project should wrap up within the next 60 days – and Front Street should be reopened completely from the cul-de-sac to Case Avenue.

According to project superintendent Mike Ashton, the plan to finish work on the utilities and roadway is seeing an accelerated pace to make their deadline.

“As of right now, our substantial completion date is scheduled for Sept. 21,” Ashton said. “We are on schedule. We have a lot of work to get done by that time and we believe we’re going to make it.”

Ashton added that nothing should derail that deadline for completing the Front Street project.

“There is nothing I can see that tells me we’re not going to make it,” he added. “In fact, we’re pushing a little bit harder now because the weather generally shifts in the middle of August, so we want to make sure we take advantage of our better weather.”

Taking advantage of the good weather Wrangell has already been experiencing, workers have been busy pouring concrete near City Market and Sentry Hardware and have installed nearly all the underground utilities to the end of Case Avenue. Crews have also filled 10-inch and 2-inch material between Campbell Drive and St. Michaels Street.

Twelve streetlights have been installed on new metal poles from the cul-de-sac to Campbell Drive at Diamond C and are currently burning brightly.

This week, crews will be installing storm drains and water and sewer utilities between Episcopal Street and Case Avenue, which will be the end point of the project. Additional pouring of concrete and grading of roadway and sidewalks will also begin after this week.

According to Ashton, one section of sewer will require special attention.

“There were two areas where we had to go in and replace sewer line or sewer line structures,” Ashton said. “One was at the Stikine Inn, and the other is at the intersection of Case and Front. They were identified as needing upgrading, so they were included in the basic bid package. It is more in-depth work but will take no more time than any other section of the project we have completed so far.”

The next meeting of the project group is scheduled for Aug. 2 at 10 a.m. in the Borough Assembly chambers at City Hall.