STEUBENVILLE — It could be another seven-10 days before the northbound lanes of Washington Street Hill (state Route 43) can reopen, City Engineer Mike Dolak told council Tuesday.

All three lanes have been closed to traffic since Sunday evening, when Dolak was notified that the concrete was “just blown up” right above the Adams Street ramp.

“We got on site, and it was actually three and a half lanes, it went a little bit into the median,” he said. “It was just in the worst place. We tried to get all the concrete off. We tried to reduce it to one lane, but it was just pretty bad with cars going over it at the speeds they were going up the hill, and then the major concern is motorcycle traffic as well, so we decided to close it.”

He said Fort Steuben Maintenance was called in and began ordering the materials they’d need to fix it and got equipment in place right away. “They probably started in the afternoon yesterday,” he said. “We’ve got to dig it all out and brace it all up, reinforce it and pour (new) concrete.”

Dolak said the extreme high temperatures enveloping the area “aren’t helping, because you can’t use the high-set (concrete), they have to use the regular stuff. So, it’ll probably be another seven to 10 days.”

“Extreme temperatures are difficult to work in,” he said.

Fifth Ward Councilman Ted Gorman said he’s getting calls because no detour signs were posted, but Dolak said that would have added several thousand dollars to the repair bill.

“We’re hoping everybody finds their own way around. If we have to set start setting up detour signs, that’s going to (add) about $5,000 to the job, because we don’t have those signs in house. We closed the road with ‘road closed’ signs in house, but if we have to set a typical detour up (it’s going to be costly.) We’re hoping that people understand the way to get around.”

Councilman at large Joel Walker said he’s been asked why the city couldn’t redirect the northbound traffic into the southbound lanes, but Dolak said “that would be a pretty hefty traffic control plan that we can’t set up in house.”

“Because you’re running traffic that’s probably going 35 miles per hour and you’d be running them right next to each other, you’d almost need to put a barrier wall up there,” Dolak said. “A road barrier wall is pretty expensive, so we’re trying to get it done as quickly as we can.”

Dolak also told Second Ward Councilman Tracy McManamon that even though it’s a state route, the repairs are the city’s problem.

We are required to do normal maintenance, and this is considered normal maintenance,” he said. “I don’t know the definition of not normal maintenance, but we should ask that.”

City Manager Jim Mavromatis, meanwhile, told council that the extreme heat is “playing a little havoc” with the pool repairs. The concrete has to “sit for 28 days” before they hcan add water.

“At best we might get two weeks (of swimming) this year,” he said, adding that it “needed to be done and we’ll have a brand-new pool when it is.”

Council passed emergency legislation that clears the path for the proposed charter revisions, as voted on by the charter review commission, on the November ballot, and also the third reading of an ordinance authorizing Mavromatis to execute contracts implementing the Central Business District Safety Study with regard to removing traffic lights at some lesser-used intersections.

Council also honored Gorman for his 30 years of dedicated service to Steubenville City Schools as teacher, coach, assistant principal and, for the last 11 years, principal at Steubenville High School. Gorman has accepted a position as the next superintendent of the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School. Gorman said he had the privilege of working with “wonderful students and staff” over the years. “I’ve been blessed and honored to be a part of Steubenville City Schools,” he added.

Mayor Jerry Barilla also presented Gorman a civic pride award.