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Viaduct project on schedule for August completion

The Seventh Avenue Deck Preservation rehabilitation project on the viaduct over the railroad tracks and the John Wodarz Memorial Bridge over the Milk River is on track for completion by mid-August, as was originally the plan, the project manager said Wednesday.

Ashley Davis of Dick Anderson Construction, the company that was awarded the job at $1.4 million, said construction is in the third and final phase.

The remaining work includes removing and replacing the expansion joints, and overlaying the viaduct. A little bit more work also remains to be done on the Milk River bridge, Davis said. Then traffic will be able to travel over them unrestricted.

Ground on the project broke mid-April and there have been no unexpected hiccups or setbacks since it began, Davis said.

"No issues," he said. "It's been a nice, smooth project."

A few days after the work begun, it came to light that the work blocked pedestrian traffic, causing people to call and complain. The state started paying for taxi service to take people without vehicles across from North Havre to Havre and back until the sidewalks re-opened.

The purpose of the project is to improve the deck surface and extend the life of the viaduct and the Milk River bridge.  

In addition to removing and replacing the expansion joints on both structures, Montana Department of Transportation Project Manager Beth Doran said when the project began in April, two inches were to be shaved off the surface of the viaduct before being resurfaced to improve skid resistance.

 

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