Buck Bay bridge gets emergency fix

An emergency crew from the county’s Department of Public Works responded in mid-March to fix “significant damage” to the bridge abutment on the northwest end of Buck Bay Bridge near Olga, averting more extensive damage and more expensive repairs, according to Frank Mulcahy, director of public works.

April 10, 2014 7:37 pm

An emergency crew from the county’s Department of Public Works responded in mid-March to fix “significant damage” to the bridge abutment on the northwest end of Buck Bay Bridge near Olga, averting more extensive damage and more expensive repairs, according to Frank Mulcahy, director of public works.

On April 1, the county council approved a resolution to waive competitive bidding requirements, allowing payment to be made to Orcas Excavators, Inc., a contractor who responded to a call for immediate help from the emergency crew already working on the problem.

Heavy rainfall and high winds the first three months of the year resulted in extra-strong stream flow in Cascade Creek that diverted the usual water flow and also deposited debris that blocked part of the creek. County Engineer Rachel Dietzman determined on March 18 that significant damage had already occurred. She was concerned that erosion might imminently undermine the rock-stabilized embankment, necessitating an immediate response.

Dietzman mobilized a repair team on Apr. 19 to stabilize the abutment.

“The debris blockage required some immediate heavy equipment help, so we called Orcas Excavators, Inc., who reached the site within an hour and completed their work the same afternoon,” said Dietzman.  “We couldn’t take the chance that permanent damage might be done to the recently completed bridge and an important salmon and trout stream.

Dietzman says because the creek is fish-bearing, they will need to do more work next summer on creek bed routing, but will receive help from the Department of Fish and Wildlife. They will also have to reconstruct some of the rock embankment.

Cascade Creek drains a large area of central Moran State Park. The water courses west and south from Mountain Lake and picks up Paul Creek from Summit Lake, emptying into Buck Bay.

The Buck Bay Bridge, which carries Point Lawrence Rd. into Olga, was completed in 2011 at a cost of $750,000.

The repairs done on Apr. 19 cost about $5,000; the stream bed work in the summer will cost an additional $10,000.