Toler Lane may be open by May 24

Crews hope to have Toler Lane at Orchard Road open for motorists by the end of the week.

Douglas County Public Works Director Carl Ruschmeyer said Friday a general contractor would be on site Wednesday to begin work on a broken culvert that forced the road closure May 8.

"We've been looking at various options and working with the ditch committee," Ruschmeyer said. "They've been very cooperative in coordinating a shutdown of irrigation on the ditch to allow a temporary pipe inside the culvert.

"When that's accomplished, we can open the ditch for irrigation, excavate the road and repair the break in the culvert."

The Virginia Ditch culvert was running at full irrigation flow when settlement was discovered over the ditch. The road was closed at Orchard and traffic was diverted on the Valley's east side as a safety measure.

"We understand it's an inconvenience there," Ruschmeyer said. "We've had calls and concerns. People know the route may take a few extra minutes, but nobody's isolated."

Motorists have been diverted to Buckeye Road, to Orchard to Toler. Ruschmeyer said he hopes the repairs will be completed by the weekend.