Stanleyville Road is under repair this week as the landslip which began in February 2018 finally sees FEMA funds. (Photo Provided)

FEARING TWP.–Stanleyville Road is closed today to address a landslip which has continued to wash down Duck Creek since February of 2018.

“Duck Creek runs at the toe of the intersection where Stanleyville Road meets a dead-end township road (Vaught Road), but that township road still has two residences–including one elderly resident–on it and one working farm that had no other access without the township road,” explained Washington County Engineer Roger Wright. “When the slip first appeared on Stanleyville, above Vaught in February of last year, it wasn’t that bad, and the assessment with (the Federal Emergency Management Agency) was accurate for a much smaller project.”

But delays in receipt of funding from FEMA saw that original $158,249 repair estimate balloon.

“I was worried there was going to be no way to keep that township road open. In the interim we’ve had to spend a lot of time and resources moving around the intersection,” Wright said. “We ended up getting Congressman (Bill) Johnson’s office involved to try and get some movement from FEMA on this before we lost the township road into Duck Creek entirely. I actually went to bid on the project before I got final approval from FEMA for the additional funds because we had to secure our contractors.”

The contract with Alan Stone Company, out of Williamstown, was awarded in July for $773,599.17.

On-site Monday Alan Stone and Smith Concrete were pouring concrete piles to reinforce steel I-beams to create two retaining walls.

“This is what’s considered cast-in-place piles,” explained county field inspector Doug Parks. “There are 104 piles, then we’ll drill in between them and add plug piles. It will be one solid wall up through here, and it will be a two-lane road again after we’re done.”

Parks worked with Foreman Jason Jarvis, of Alan Stone, Monday to ensure the quality of concrete pours and safety before the full road closure today.

He said the road will be closed for at least 28 days as the section above Duck Creek and Vaught Road are secured, new culverts are put in to replace three existing ones running below Stanleyville Road to Duck Creek and both profile milling and subgrade rebuilding occurs on the road.

“The goal is to get this done before they shut down the asphalt plants,” explained Parks. “Weather is going to be the biggest thing, they can close in December, or around Thanksgiving–that’s why we brought out two drill rigs to speed up this process.”

The road is estimated to be completed in December.