A repaving project on Sedgwick Road hit a glitch earlier this
week, when crews from the paving company contracted by the city of
Port Orchard found areas of wetland upon tearing off the old
roadway.
That’s no surprise said Public Works Director Mark Dorsey, who
noted the road was put laid over a marshy area long before rules of
the Shoreline Management Act would have made it hard if not
impossible to do so.
The goal of state shoreline laws is to have “no net loss” of
functioning wetlands and shorelines. Development in and around some
wetlands is allowed depending on how they score on a system the
state uses to rate functionality, like how well they absorb water
and filter pollutants. Development allowed on or near wetlands
these days must be offset or mitigated by the builder’s enhancement
of other wetland areas.
As it is, Sedgwick is grandfathered in, with no mitigation
required. Crews filled in squishy areas on the roadway, then put
down a layer of asphalt. More asphalt is needed, but first they
need to see if the issue with wet areas is solved.
The road, which has been closed all week, will be open on schedule
Saturday, but crews will be looking for the new asphalt to “proof”
or set up. If it breaks apart and settles as cars drive over it,
more fill work will have to be done, Dorsey said.
The city council on Tuesday authorized an additional expenditure of
up to $50,000 for the required fix. The original cost of the job
was estimated at $191,605. The extra money is available in the
city’s street fund.
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