The Central Kitsap Reporter has rendered a public service by including a report on the Pacific Avenue Project among the top stories of the year. It reported on the boldness and sound judgment of Coucilwoman Leslie Daugs when she disagreed with the decision to skip soil testing in the project, thereby informing residents how Bremerton handles its public works projects.

Soil testing is an indispensable component of any major earthwork project such as roadways. Skipping it as was done in Pacific Avenue inevitably results in unforeseen cost overrun.

Discovering poor soil conditions only during construction, which could have been avoided only by testing, is unacceptable to sound engineering management practice. It is only by testing and analysis that the soil on which a roadway is built insures meeting the requirements for load bearing capacity and drainage efficiency.

There are a number of methods of soil testing that do not affect traffic, the most technologically advanced being the sounding method. The excuse, therefore, to forego soil testing because closing the road to traffic will cost more, is unacceptable.

This is one instance whereby the services of a private engineering consultant should be engaged if the city engineer deems that the engineering department does not have the technical capability to handle such as undertaking.

Bremerton should be thankful that they have Coucilwoman Leslie Daugs as a watchdog over how the City of Bremerton spends their taxes on public works.

Retired city engineer

Noel C. Sims, PE

Bremerton