Skyline project ongoing, some residents miffed about mail
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POLSON — Contractor L. S. Jensen began work on the $7 million phase of Skyline Drive project in August and may continue into November, weather permitting. According to Lake County Commissioner Paddy Trusler, project manager, this summer’s goal is to install mechanically stabilized walls.
He said, “Big walls take big equipment to put them in place.”
Those large machines take up a lot of room on the narrow road, too; so traffic is one-way down the hill. Residents return home by driving east on Highway 93 through Polson, south to Caffrey Drive and popping over the hill to Skyline. Most residents of the area are being cooperative, Trusler said, and focusing on the outcome of the project.
Claffey Drive resident Peter Walther said the construction is inconvenient, but he and his wife haven’t had any major problems.
“The most inconvenient thing is going down in front of the city shop to get the mail,” Walther said, adding that residents have heard the mailboxes will be there until the project is complete.
The cluster mailboxes have been relocated to the front of the city of Polson shops on First Street E. and 11th Ave. W. at the request of the United States Postal Service, Trusler said. It’s anticipated that the boxes will remain there until the project is completed, which should be in 2013.
Another Claffey Drive resident said the postmistress said the postal truck driver was paid by the hour, and it would cost too much to lengthen the route, and the post office doesn’t pay overtime. It’s a little less than 10 miles for the trip, he noted, so they’re making 30 to 40 houses full of people go down the hill instead of one mail truck coming up the hill.
This man has been in contact with Sen. Baucus’ office to see if something can be done about the mail situation.
Another issue is the one-way traffic. Last year, the contractor used traffic lights, and the traffic was two-way, which he thinks was a better solution. He’ll be glad to have Skyline Drive repaired and improved.
Project scoping meetings are held each week at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesdays at the county commissioners office in the Lake County Courthouse for anyone who is interested in the project.
