Part of this Gig Harbor road is a ‘soupy mix of clay and silt.’ Here’s the city’s plan
A plan for repairs is in the works to fix crumbling pavement that led to a partial lane closure on Borgen Boulevard.
The westbound lane of Borgen Boulevard near Olympus Lane in Gig Harbor has been closed since early March, and the city is working to repair damage from heavy rain over the last six months.
When a contractor came out to review the damage, the soil underneath the surface was not in good condition.
“We’ve dug down 10 feet and it’s a soupy mix of clay and silt,” Public Works director Jeff Langhelm said at a recent City Council meeting.
“We recognize the timing for this work is far from ideal with the current construction occurring at the intersection of Harborview Drive-Stinson Avenue, and the City will complete this work as soon as possible to avoid the risk of further repairs and minimize impacts to the public,” a news release from the city said.
The curb and gutter also sustained damage from the heavy rain and will be replaced.
“The City’s Public Works Operations division has patched this area multiple times and temporary patching is no longer a viable option,” the news release said.
Part of the road will continue to be blocked off while the repairs are done.
Traffic can still enter the roundabout and travel down Borgen Boulevard, but a small area of the westbound lane is closed immediately around the paving issue.
The city is working with a geotechnical firm to investigate why the damage occurred. The city won’t know how long the repairs will take or how much they’ll cost until that investigation is done. They hope to have the investigation complete within the next week, Laura Pettit, communications and tourism director for the city of Gig Harbor, said April 14.
