Last week’s rain delayed repairs of a water main that broke about a week ago in the 32nd block of north Main Avenue, near north City Market. While the city has made repairs to the water main, it’s the concrete that is slowing things down.
“We got the concrete poured on Friday, and now we have to wait,” said Durango Utilities Director Steve Salka.
Since this part of Main Avenue is overseen by the Colorado Department of Transportation and not the city, the concrete must be tested to meet the standards of the state. Core samples are studied to determine the material hardness and strength, and if CDOT deems the concrete too weak, the process starts all over.
“We’re really quick with city streets,” Salka said. “But with CDOT, we have to follow their rules. The rain we had slowed us down. We’re just waiting for it to get hard enough.”
Salka said concrete poured is nearly 1 foot thick.
“It’s not like pouring a sidewalk or a garage floor,” he said. “You want to make sure it’s big enough, so that the heavy trucks don’t destroy it. You want something that’s going to last a long time.”
Salka said he is confident the CDOT core samples will pass.
“Because of the weekend, on Monday, it’s going to pass, and we’ll just open it up,” Salka said.
bmathis@durangoherald.com
