High school sidewalk to be torn up

Sections of the four-year-old sidewalk at Bonners Ferry High School will be torn up Friday, May 2, in hopes of determining what caused it to crack and buckle, and who should pay to replace it.

To help with the project, the school board during its April 24 meeting, hired consultant Mike Woodward, the former administrator and engineer for Bonners Ferry. Woodward will be paid $20 an hour.

It’s likely the entire sidewalk will need to be replaced at a cost of $80,000 to $100,000. It’s not known if the architect, contractor or school district will pay for the new sidewalk.

School officials initially noticed problems with the sidewalk the first winter after Walker Construction of Spokane, Wash., completed the $9.6 million high school building in December 2004. Heaving of the sidewalk followed the second winter.

The recent winter resulted in additional damage to the sidewalk around the entire building. In some places, it’s worse, and in some places, in addition to heaving 1 to 3 inches, it’s cracked.

This winter’s near-record snowfall compounded the problem by water getting underneath the concrete, turning into ice and forcing the sidewalk to heave.

In addition, the ground underneath is clay, which makes it difficult for water to drain.

Superintendent Dr. Don Bartling told the board that 4- to 6-foot sections of the sidewalk will be pulled up.

Bartling also suggested that the school get estimates from local contractors to replace the sidewalk.

School officials hope to determine why the sidewalk cracked.

“We will pursue litigation if everything doesn’t come together for the sake of the community,” said school board chairwoman Melanie Staples.