Highway 95 resurfacing project near Sagle cancelled for 2015

September 16, 2015

After being scheduled, then rescheduled, postponed, and then finally started, the on-again, off-again chip seal resurfacing project on six miles of U.S. Highway 95 near Sagle has now been cancelled for this year. "We're not going to be doing that seal coat this year," said Idaho Transportation Department spokesman Scotty Fellom. The resurfacing portion of the overall $27.5 million Garwood to Sagle project was set to go earlier in the summer with a subcontractor out of Kent, Washington. For reasons not really clear, that subcontractor was unable to proceed with the project, according to Marvin Fenn, an Engineering Manager at ITD. A different subcontractor was then brought on for the project, and it appeared things were finally getting underway. As the resurfacing began, ITD technicians ran tests on the aggregate being used for the chip seal. It was determined the material being used did not meet project specifications, according to Mr. Fenn, and with substandard aggregate, ITD would not allow the resurfacing to proceed. At this point, temperatures are beginning to cool as we approach the autumn months. These temperatures are approaching lower levels that are less than optimal for a chip seal project. Further, this particular project was funded by GARVEE bonds (bonds used to finance projects such as this, issued in anticipation of eventual funding with federal transportation monies). All GARVEE funding must be used by December. This late in the year, that narrowing time frame added to the decision to cancel the resurfacing project. So, for now Idaho Panhandle drivers won't have to worry about the lane closures, lowered speed limits, delays, sticky chip seal surfaces, and flying gravel targeting their windshields for the six mile Sagle project, at least for now. New potential funding for the project will be examined next year, and the project may be reset for a future date, according to Mr. Fellom. Asked by NewsBF if there might be any legal consequences for the subcontractor not fulfilling their part of the agreement in providing appropriate aggregate material for the project to move forward, ITD's Mr. Fenn indicated that because specifications weren't met, the company's prep work will not be compensated, and their aggregate will not be paid for, so those are costs that company will have to absorb, but beyond that no other legal consequence is anticipated. In the meantime, even though the resurfacing in the Sagle area will not happen this year, the project's primary contractor continues to proceed with work on a frontage road and other work in the area. The frontage road portion of the overall project should be finished within a few weeks.