When will North Iris be paved? Mother Nature has the answer

Completion of the 2014 portion of the North Iris Street reconstruction project in Mt. Pleasant is in the hands of Mother Nature, as it has been throughout the season, according to officials from Warner Engineering Associates.

The project has been hampered throughout the past three seasons by inclement weather. A month ago, it was decided to finish the paving to the railroad tracks (just north of East Monroe Street) and finish the remainder of the project next spring.

Shipley Contracting hoped to pave the stretch today and tomorrow but once again, Mother Nature put a halt to plans.

Now, it is hoped the area can be paved later this week.

Warner officials said the temperature has to be 34 degrees and rising before cement is poured.

Shipley has the grade covered with four layers of burlap, hot water tankers lined up for the pour and four layers of burlap to cover the concrete once it is poured.

Plans are for the use of multiple belt trucks to place the concrete.

?We can?t fight Mother Nature, but we have not given up either,? said Bob Troutman of Warner Engineering. ?We just need a couple of days with adequate temperatures. We will try to get Iris Street paved as soon as we can and still do it within the specification requirements.?