MINE CLEANUP: View from the Village

Whenever mine-remediation equipment rumbles through the Village, it's escorted by safety personnel. (Photo / D. Wilson)

‘Traffic in Holden Village’

As I compose this post, Holden Village looks basically the same as it has for many years. At least that would be your first impression if, suddenly transported to the center of the Village—say, in front of Koinonia—you were to take a quick look around in all directions. But that would be deceptive. Holden has changed and is changing. The initial phase of mine remediation, anticipated and debated for so long, is well under way.

If you were to linger in that familiar spot on the Village’s main thoroughfare, you’d soon be aware of this reality. Here comes a really big dump truck, shepherded through the Village by a worker sporting a hard hat and neon-orange vest. Moments later, a second and third one pass through, brimming with rocks and dirt. You might encounter other heavy equipment as well—some machinery, borne on loudly clattering steel tracks, so weighty that it causes earthquake-like tremors in nearby structures.

Fortunately, a major bypass road is being constructed to divert traffic around the Village. Starting just west of where 10-Mile Creek surges under the Forest Service artery from Lucerne to Holden, the bypass will cross over Railroad Creek on a heavy-load-bearing bridge and wend its way toward the ancillary road that leads up to Holden’s garages (second level). Substantial stretches of timber have been felled to create the bypass route, and several trails have been closed (including easy access to the scenic switchbacks that lead up to Copper Falls). Prominently situated signs read, AREA CLOSED TO PUBLIC. At the bypass road’s western terminus, a fuel depot with enormous white tanks keeps earth-moving and -grading equipment running from early morning until dinnertime seven days a week.

Fill dirt from the Dan's Camp borrow area, located near the top of the Lucerne-Holden Road switchbacks, is being used for the bypass road and other aspects of mine remediation. (Photo / D. Wilson)

When will the bypass begin diverting remediation traffic away from the Village and return it to a semblance of its previous peaceful state? Most of us would respond, “Soon, we hope!”—recognizing, too, that disruptions are an inevitable part of a process that ultimately will be highly beneficial. But the unusual traffic will continue until the heavy-duty bridge across Railroad Creek is completed. MWH, the principal engineering-consulting firm for the entire remediation process, is giving that key element top-priority attention. The official schedule calls for a debut crossing in mid- to late November. Still, with the potential of unforeseen complications and the inevitable advent of winter, the bridge may not be standing and completely ready for weighty work until spring. Stay tuned.

And watch for more about the mine-remediation workers and how they’re fitting into the life and times of Holden Village. Currently, 50 or so are here—housed in Lodges 1and 2 and Chalet 2. By next summer they’ll number about 65. But in 2013-2014—the “heavy-construction years”—the population of highly skilled remediation team members will likely surpass 300. Again, stay tuned! —Remy B. / 10.4.11