Highway 25 road delays next week

Published 4:06 pm Friday, September 3, 2010

COLUMBIANA — Columbiana may see some traffic next week due to work being done off Alabama State Highway 25 near mile marker 128.

The Alabama Department of Environmental Management will be digging on one side of the road to remove soil they believe might be contaminated, according to a press release.

“ALDOT was doing some work a while back in the area and discovered some contamination,” said Scott Hughes of ADEM. “They did some preliminary soil screens and found some metals such as chromium and arsenic.”

The possibly contaminated area is in the right-of-way, Hughes said. So far they have not been able to find a cause or responsible party.

The mobilization of equipment will begin Tuesday, Sept. 7. The project is expected to last approximately 10 days.

ADEM will be working with the Alabama Department of Transportation to control traffic. Motorists traveling in the area could be subject to reduced speed limits and possible lane closures.

ADEM will be removing approximately 900 cubic yards of soil and taking samples of corresponding soil.

A storm water management plan will also be implemented during the project to address potential storm water run-off at the site.

Workers may be using personnel protective equipment and protective suits during some phases of the project.

“We really don’t know what we’re going to be dealing with until we get in there and do some sampling,” Hughes said