Week of September 9th, 2013

Fall is coming, summer is departing. Major resurfacing has been completed for the year. So, what are we to do? 

Let's start with an autumn reminder.

As the leaves begin to fall off the trees and onto your lawns, remember that is is a no-no to sweep them into the roadside ditches where they can block the water flow through culverts, and also onto the streets where they can cause slippery conditions and block storm drain grates.  If you have culverts and grates near your house, you can help ease potential flooding threats by keeping these drains clear with a rake or broom. It just takes a second, and can save many dollars worth of flood damage. Our crews do their very best, but there are thousands of storm drains and culverts in the county, and it only takes a few maple leaves to block the top of a storm drain.   So, on that note:

In the NPDES areas: Sweeping and catch-basin and culvert cleaning. There could be single lane work zones, so please use caution when in these areas.

Chehalis Western Trail work:  

• At HWY 507: Log removal from stream (off right of way)
• At LaFrance/128th: Culvert Installation -- possible trail restrictions

Byron St SE: Stormwater repair. Use caution in this work zone

OTHER WORK GOING ON:

Creekwood Dr SW: Asphalt pavement Repair (digouts)

• Single lane work zone

Vail Rd SE: Driveway Repairs

• Single lane work zones

Remember that you can follow our Twitter feed for updates on weather and storm related closures. 

To report flooded county roads, call our office at 360-867-2300.

Week of July 22nd, 2013

Yes, it's that time of the year...

In the south end of the county we are chip-sealing, asphalt pre-leveling, and applying dust control product to gravel roads. All of these operations could cause delays and /or single lane closures. Speed limits on newly surfaced roads is 25MPH.

Also, the chipseal crew will be working into the evening, beyond our usual hours so be prepared if you live in the Tenino/Rainier/Yelm areas. You can see more chipseal information on our Public Works web page including the proposed daily road schedule, subject to change.

VEGETATION CONTROL

We have mowers working county wide to control the shoulder vegetation growth. These folks are doing their best to keep ahead of Mother Nature, but it is a close race. Please use caution when around these work zones.

We also have crews out with weed trimmers working to remove the tall grass and brush near the guardrails. These workers can't always hear your vehicles due to the noise of the trimmers, and they are often working in narrow shoulder spaces so please slow down and take care when moving through their work areas.

ENJOY THE SUN and have a safe week!

Week of July 8th, 2013

Welcome to Washington's Summer!

For Public Works that means paving and chipseal season is just around the corner. Our chipseal prep is nearly wrapping up, and this week the crew will be putting a sealing coat of oil over the patches in the south east area roads on the chipseal list.  This will mean single lane closures and the addition of "FRESH OIL AHEAD" signs. Please obey posted speeds for your safety and that of others, as newly oiled surfaces can be slick until the oil dries. Our preliminary chipseal list is posted on the tab above.

They will also be finishing up the sealing of cracks with hot asphalt oil on the chipseal road list. This involves the same cautions as above. Please follow the directions of traffic control signs & personnel when approaching and travelling through these work zones.


In Rochester, trucks are entering and leaving the Boy's & Girl's Club as that project  nears completion with the installation of curbing and striping in the parking lot. Use caution while on SE Bend Street.

Our slope and shoulder mowers are out in force around the county trying to keep ahead of the grass and vegetation along the sides of the roads. In some areas, they need to close a lane while doing this. Watch for the orange warning signs and pass the mowers with caution.

AND FINALLY, in the ever present NPDES areas we have sweeping and catchbasin and culvert cleaning. There may be single lane closures around the vactor machine. Please use caution when entering these and all work zones.

Enjoy the summer! Be Safe on the roads!

Maintenance for the week of June 10th, 2013

Let's start with the normal stuff that we have going on before we get to the big stuff for this week.

Throughout the county we have sweeping, shoulder mowing, culvert, and catchbasin cleaning. These tasks all involve work zones that require you to use caution when entering and travelling through. There may be short single lane closures. Our crews are working to maintain safe roadway conditions. Please help them by passing through their work zones slowly and safely. Follow the directions of any traffic control personnel or signs that may be present. Be aware that mowers and sweepers can sometimes throw debris.

The sweeping and culvert/basin cleaning will be primarily in the NPDES zones.

Now, for the "not so routine"...

On Bend St SW in Rochester, there is a paving and drainage project going on at the Boys & Girls Club. There will be trucks entering and leaving the project so use caution in the area.

At 7th SE and Steilacoom Rd the intersection is being reconfigured. This will involve the closure of 7th Ave for a period of time. Detour routes will be posted in the area and are viewable online at Detour Map . For more information about this project please contact Lucy Mills, Operations Manager, at 867-2384. This project will extend from June 10th-21st.

And last but not least, the pavement prep for the 2013 chip seal contract continues in the southwest with crack sealing. This will involve single lane closures and some delays.

Have a wonderful week and enjoy the sunshine.

Week of May 13th, 2013

Let's switch things up this week and start with the work in the NPDES areas.  The Mobile sweeping operations are going on. Please use caution when passing.

In Rochester, work is going on at the Boys & Girls Club. Drainage work is being performed in preparation for the new parking lot, so trucks and equipment will be entering and leaving the site.(10140 HWY 12)

Mowers are working around the south areas of the county. These are slow moving vehicles  so please pass cautiously. 

On Susan Ct. SE, and also on South Bay Rd NE, crews are doing brush and tree removal. Expect single lane closures and some delays.


On Johnson Creek Rd SE and also in the McIntosh Lake area, there is pavement repair going on for this summer's chip-seal work. Expect delays and single lane closures in those work zones.

It's also important to note that work has once again started on Rich Road and there will be intermittent delays and slow traffic as that project continues. Alternate routes are suggested. That project is on the south end of Rich Road from 89th to Old 99.

April 29th- This Week in Road Maintenance

The pavement repair and preparation for summer chip-seal continues. This week the crew will be working in the subdivisions of Shana Park and Wilderness, and in the Evergreen Valley area. There will be single lane closures and you can expect some delays.

The crew is working to finish up the work on the Chehalis Western Trail, armoring the banks where the logjam was removed. The trail section is expected to reopen Wednesday evening.

Vegetation removal is working in the southeast on the chip-seal roads. Single lane closures and some delays are to be expected.

And, in the NPDES areas, (yeah... THOSE again...) sweeping is happening! Please use caution in the area.


I will be posting the Chip seal road list as a reference this week. Please remember that this list is completely subject to change due to budgetary reasons and other considerations.

April 23rd, 2013

Do not worry, the fiery ball in the sky is called "the sun". It gives us light and life. And warmth. It makes us happy. It allows us to fix the roads...

And that is what we are doing.

On Spurgeon Creek Rd SE, our crews are preparing the road for summer chip-seal with some pavement repairs. Expect single lane closures, with some delays in the work zone.


In the NPDES areas, we have mobile sweeping going on. Please use caution when approaching and passing.

Also in the NPDES Areas, there is catch basin and pipe (culvert) cleaning. This will involve single lane closures. Please watch for our workers and traffic control personnel.

Just a reminder:  For work in NPDES areas please refer to this map. For more information on the NPDES, please visit Thurston County Stormwater Utility's Information Page.


Also, The Chehalis Western Trail is closed from 103rd SE - Stedman Rd SE so that crews can remove a logjam. The closure will last from Monday - Friday of this week. Contact Kerry Hibdon @ 867-2181 for information.

April 15th, 2013

We like to mention that it is Work Zone Safety Awareness Week.  Please, take care and drive safely through all work areas. Be aware of what Traffic Control personnel are directing you to do, and watch for unexpected crew and equipment movement.
~~In Memory of Fred Moeller & John Gilligan~~


Welcome Spring...
You've probably noticed that it has been a while since we've posted, but there are only so many ways we can say, "The crew is beltloading in the SouthEast" and make it sound interesting. During this time of year most of our maintenance is routine and the crews are working in the same areas from week to week, preparing the roads for summer work such as chipseal and overlay. And since there was no major winter storm damage to clean up, (although there is still some from last year, believe it or not!) that has been mostly the drill for the past couple of months.

So, here is what is currently going on:

Mostly of note,  on Morris Rd SE we are working on guardrail repairs. There will be single lane closures, so expect some delays.

Also in the southeast crews are doing asphalt repairs with dig-outs. This will also involve single lane closures. Please watch for work zone signs and traffic control folks.

As the grass grows in your yard, so it does along the shoulders of the roads. Our mowers will be mowing in the southeast. Use caution when passing.

And not forgetting that there are other areas of the county, our mobile sweepers will be working in the NPDES zones, and so will the culvert and catch-basin cleaning crews. While the sweepers will cause minimal traffic impact, the drainage work will involve lane closures in places.

February 11th, 2013

I'm beginning to feel like a broken record...

But, here we go 

In the southeast area, watch for single lane closures as the belt loading crew prepares shoulders and ditches for this summer's chip seal work.

Watch out for single lane closures throughout the county on bridges and other banked roadways as guardrails are repaired.

The slope and shoulder mowers have started their season and are mowing in the south county. Use caution when passing.

And last but not least, in the NPDES areas...  The sweepers and culvert/catchbasin crews are working. Single lane closures around the drainage work, so use caution please! 

Have a great week!

January 28th, 2013

Looks like its going to be a pretty routine Spring Maintenance week.

The belt loading crew is working on getting the roads ready for the 2013 chip seal resurfacing program. These roads are in the southeast part of the county. In the work zones, the traffic will be single lane and controlled by flaggers.

Also in the south east there is some brush and limb removal happening that also warrants the closure of one lane in the work areas.

The bridge crew is continuing their annual maintenance cycle on the bridges in the south end of the county, causing single lane closures on the bridges during the active inspections.

Gravel road maintenance is going on in the southeast. Watch for the grader and trucks, but other than that, no work zone concerns.

In the NPDES areas, the sweepers are working. Please use caution when approaching and passing.  Also the Catchbasin & Culvert cleaning crews are working. There is a safety vehicle with them to alert you of their presence. Use caution when moving around their work area.

Week of January 21st, 2013

No regular work on Monday in Observance of Dr M.L. King's Birthday. All Public Works Offices Closed.

Crews will be doing ditch maintenance on the following roads:

OHOP RD SE

MADRONA BEACH RD NW

On these roads, the traffic will be restricted to a single lane and there will be traffic control in place.

In the southeast part of the county, belt-loading is continuing. This also causes single lane closures with trucks and equipment moving in and out of the open lane. There are plenty of work zone warning signs and traffic control personnel in place, so please heed their directions and keep your eyes open for equipment movement. 

And finally, in the NPDES areas, the Sweeping and Catch-basin and culvert cleaning continues. You will have single lane closures with traffic control around the drainage work and for the sweeping, just please use caution when approaching and passing.

Have a safe week!

January 7th, 2013

We are back at a relatively normal schedule again after the holidays. We have the possibility of stormy weather so the crews may be pulled off for response, but here is the schedule for this week as it stands.

On Reservation Rd, SE there will be single lane closure for guardrail repair. 

The belt loading crew is working in the SOUTHEAST area, which will cause single lane closures and vehicles moving in and out of the open lane.

Also in the SOUTHEAST, JOHNSON CREEK RD AREA, single lane closures for brush and limb removal.

And in the ever-popular NPDES areas,

sweeping and catch-basin and culvert cleaning. The catch-basin and culvert cleaning will involve some lane closures.

Have a safe week!

December 17th, 2012

We survived the first winter storm, and the roads in Rochester are open again.

Our crews are working on the 2013 chipseal prep list is the southeast by doing some belt-loading. There are single lane closures involved with this task.

Annual bridge inspections are being performed in the southeast and southwest county, this should cause no traffic impediments.

Also in the southwest, we have vegetation and brush removal. This process may inviolve some single lane closures, so watch for the work zone signs and flaggers.

And finally, in the NPDES zones, sweepers are sweeping, with no lane restrictions, but watch for stops. Also in the NPDES zones, catch basin and culvert cleaning, with single lane closures.

The weather is starting to get colder and wetter. Remember, for emergency information check out Thurston County Emergency Management's website (and our's too)

The staff of Thurston County Public Works wishes your family a safe and happy holiday!

Week of November 19th, 2012

Thurston County Offices will be closed Thursday and Friday November 22 and 23 for the celebration of Thanksgiving. 

Our road operations crews sign up to be on-call to respond to emergencies if needed. They are also prepared to return to work for emergency operations if conditions require it.

We now return you to our regularly scheduled programming....

In preparation for the winter road conditions we will have the chefs mixing up a special batch of yummy anti-icing brine at our Operations facility.  This is the stuff that they put down on the road that forms a barrier that helps to prevent ice from forming on the road surface. The crews apply it to places that are likely to freeze such as bridges, overpasses, hills, and intersections.   The road needs to be dry for the application, as this is not for melting the ice, but for preventing it from actually bonding to the pavement.  If we get a rain/freeze, or worse, the rain/snow/freeze combo  the anti-icing methods don't work.  That's when we are forced to bring out the old fashioned, mechanical sanders and plows... but, more on that next month! 

Back to this week's projects.

The Black Lake area  Castor canadensis will be undergoing some urban renewal. Crews will be removing some beaver dams in the area. No traffic impacts with this project.

In the NPDES area:

Sweeping and Culvert/Catch-basin maintenance with shadow vehicles.  For work in these areas please refer to this map. For more information on the NPDES, please visit Thurston County Stormwater Utility's Information Page.

In the Southeast and Southwest:

More gravel road grading and maintenance. No restrictions, but watch for the trucks and equipment if they are on your road. There may be a brief delay while they dump and spread gravel.

The Staff of Thurston County Public Works would like to take this opportunity to wish you and your loved ones a safe and happy Thanksgiving!
photo ©2011kathrynibrenner

Week of November 12th, 2012

County offices, including Road Operations will be closed Monday to honor our Veterans. 

Thank you for your service!

---

Beginning Tuesday, the belt loading crew will be hard at work in the southeast area. This is a mobile operation that involves single lane closures with trucks and equipment pulling into and out of the work area. The work zone is signed and there are flaggers for everyone's safety.  There is also continuing ditch work in the Scott Lake subdivision that also involves single lane closures.  

The brush crews will be doing their thing on Lindell Rd SE & Johnson Creek Rd SE. This will involve single lane closures. Please use caution when travelling through the work area.





In the southwest part of the county, we will be performing the regular gravel road maintenance. This doesn't involve road closures, but you may encounter a grader and dump truck spreading gravel.

And finally, in the NPDES areas, the vactors and mobile sweepers will be out cleaning the roads and storm drains. No road closures with these operations, but there is a shadow car with the catch basin and culvert cleaning.  Use care when passing.

Autumn Leaves & Work locations for the week of Oct 29th, 2012

Most of the work this week is being done in the NPDES areas of the county. That's the yellow areas on this map. With autumn's arrival the sweepers and catch-basin and culvert cleaners are working to make sure the drains are clear for stormwater run-off.  You can help by using a rake of broom to keep the storm grates and culverts free of leaves, and please, do not rake your leaves out into the street. 

Just a few large maple leaves can block a storm drain and cause roadway flooding, and sadly, we don't have enough staff to visit all of the more than 2500 catch-basins between the time the leaves fall and the rain starts.

There will be no road closures in the work areas, however there will be follow cars with message boards to warn you near the vactor work areas.

 In other work...Our crew will be working on the Chehalis Western Recreational Trail from 26th Ave NE (South Bay) to Woodard Bay.  They will be accomplishing some needed asphalt trail repairs and paving. This will require short closures of some sections of the trail in that area.

We are heading in to storm season. Plan ahead and check out Thurston Emergency Management's website for tons of great information!

Week of October 15th.

Pull out the boots and rain-gear, fall is here!

The crews are busy this week in the NPDES areas. The sweepers are out as well as the vactors, sweeping the roads and cleaning catch-basins and culverts. These operations have follow vehicles with them to help warn you and keep you and the operators safe. Watch for the ground crew and sudden equipment movement.

Skookumchuck Road:

Single lane closures for brush removal work.

56th Ct SE:

Single lane closure for tree removal and sidewalk repair.

Tanglewilde Subdivision:

Single lane closures for dry-well work.

Beaver Dam Inspections

In the southeast areas of the county, our bridge and waterway crew will be inspecting the  engineering feats of the local Castor canadensis residents. Beavers tend to rebuild stronger if their dams are removed or destroyed, so unless there is an absolute necessity to act, we prefer to just keep tabs on them and make sure that culverts in the area are allowing water to stay at a non flood level.

No traffic impacts expected with the inspections.

That's all until next week...

Stay safe and dry!

Schedule for the week of October 8th, 2012

Taking advantage of the good weather...

Our crews will be continuing to prepare the roads for next season's chip-seal contract. These roads are in the south-east area of the county and the work involves crack sealing. There will be single lane closures in the work zones.

Subdivision Work...

In Le Mirage, there will be single lane closures for sidewalk repairs.

Along Wilderness Dr in Wilderness Sub, we are still working on dry-well rehabilitation, which will also require single lane closures.

In Cedar Lake Sub, crews are doing limb and brush removal and will have a lane closed in the work area.

NPDES Areas...

Mobile sweeping, use caution if passing.

Vactor maintenance of catch-basins and culverts. There is a follow vehicle with this operation, use caution when going around the work area.

Please use care when travelling through work zones and follow the directions and guidance of traffic control personnel and crew.

Fall is Here... October 1st,2012

All Together Now!

During our campus remodel our maintenance crews have been working from sites in different parts of the county. Beginning October 1st, all of Public Works crews will be reporting to the Tilley Road facility for daily dispatch for the first time in two years. While it will be a change in the way some of our work is assigned, it will make some things easier. It will make it especially easier for us to get the crew location information to you. 

So, here we go...

For the week of October 1st,2012...

In the Southeast part of the county, the crews are working on preparing the roads for the 2013 Chipseal program. This includes Dig-Outs and Crack-sealing, and brush,tree,and limb removal. Watch for traffic control personnel (flaggers) to guide you safely through work zones.

In the Lake Forest and Wilderness subdivisions, we are working on dry-well modifications to improve storm water drainage in the area. 

If you live around the Rainier pit site, the rumbling noises you hear are not from an impending disaster, it's just our crew grinding branches and wood debris with the tub grinder.

Week of June 25th

MOWING!!!!

Our mowers are out in force this week. Look for them in the following areas:

• East Olympia/Goodard Rd
• Nisqually Valley
• Bald Hills area
• Michigan Hill area

Brush removal :

• Valley Green area
• service requests (southwest county)

Driveway modification:

• Vail Rd at Whitland Lane

Catchbasin & Pipe cleaning

• NE NPDES area