This is a daily journal of the 2003 Cantu Lane Bridge project
as recorded by Kent McCabe.

Oct. 27
 Road meeting at McCabe's. Agreed on a plan to replace the bridge. 
A bit unclear on how to finance. Got a verbal committment to permit 
from Dept. of Fisheries. Ready to set things in motion .
Oct. 28
 Ah yes, the old Polish 2-step. One step forward and two steps back. 
Called the Engineer that I have been working with and let him know 
that we are ready to get the official design plans. He let me know that 
he has decided to pull out of the project. Set up a meeting with another 
engineer for Tue. the 29th. Permits will be waiting for plans. Have a few 
details to be working on meanwhile. Need Money! 
Oct. 29
 Another day without an engineer. I talked with an engineer that was 
quite adamant about doing something completely different from the 
plan that we got the Dept. of Fisheries to agree to. Talked to Jeff Davis 
again and he said that they would revoke their permit if we changed to 
another plan. Made the decision to look for another engineer. I really 
wanted to have some steel on the ground this weekend, but it doesn't 
look like it is going to happen. Lesa and I have decided to postpone 
our trip to Tx until Jan. Fire cheif called demanding that we get an engineer's 
evaluation of the existing bridge. I talked to my homeowner's insurance 
agent. Was assured that we will be coveredin the event of a fire. 
Insurance will not help pay for the bridge. 
Oct. 30
 We got an engineer out to rate the load capacity of the existing bridge in 
it's current condition.Roy Lusk insisted that we get it rated or all of the 
homes on the back side of the bridge would be yellow tagged, which means 
no emergency service at all. Although we can hardly afford to spend money 
to assess the capacity of the existing bridge, we couldn't afford not to. I am 
continuing to gather information on the specifics of the dirt work that will have 
to be done. Not really a lot new to report. There are a number of things in the 
works, but to say anything now would be merely to speculate.   
Oct. 31
 Had an encouraging discussion with an engineer today. He might be the guy.
Rating on the existing bridge is put off till monday. I am meeting with Jeff Davis
from Fisheries tomorrow to get more specifics on requirements. Received info 
from Enyeart's lawyers. A letter will be forthcoming. 
Nov. 1
 Yeah, I'm a day late with this one. So sue me. I met with Jeff Davis from the 
Fisheries Dept. and we went over details of permit requirements. Did some 
measuring and checked some elevations. Plans will be modified to bridge a 
60' span. Not a big difference, just more steel. I typed the letter that will be 
going out to all Association members, but will not mail until I hear from the engineer
in reference to the state of the existing bridge. 
Nov. 2
 Really nothing worth mentioning.
Nov. 3
 Heard from the engineer by phone. He rates the bridge capacity at 15,000lbs. 
Still waiting for the official document saying so, but we will continue to have 
emergency medical, but no fire response. Notice of emergency assessment 
for bridge funds are ready to mail. Will start ordering materials soon. 
Nov. 4
 Patrick Fredrickson stumbled across a bridge that seemed to need a home. 
We did some checking on it and it looks like it may be donated to us by the
Salmon Enhancement Group of Belfair. More details tomorrow. 
Nov. 5
 Engineer (Bob Morrison) studied pictures of the Salmon Enhancement Group 
Bridge and talked to somebody in the group that was familiar with the bridge.
He said that analyzing the bridge to accurately determine it's load capacity 
would be difficult and expensive. There is a good chance that we would not be 
able to use it even after paying to have it  rated. Back to square 1. However, 
we do have a good solid foothold in square one and I believe we actually have 
chosen a direction. More to come.  
Nov. 6
 I think that everybody is now on the same page and Bob Morrison can put 
together the actual drawing. We are back to a 40' bridge. All documents to
be completed and ready for permit submittal no later than Friday 14 November 
2003. Beam sizing to be complete by Monday 10 November 2003 so that 
beams can be ordered.I hope to begin organizing work details this weekend. 
Please feel free to contact me if you have skills (carpentry, concrete, dirtwork, 
ironwork, imagineers) that we can utilize for this project. I have some surveying
to do this weekend, plus I would like to get started on the foot bridge. 
Nov. 7
 I don't know the exact jargon that should be used here, but you will get the idea.
President Bush signed the bill giving disaster relief to our area. That should mean
financial assistance with our road. Expect to be asked to attend a meeting next
week with a representative of the Gov. to explain in detail how it works.
Nov. 8
 Had 12" I-beam that was donated by Kitsap county delivered. Joel Gibson and I spent
saturday prepping site for temporary foot bridge. The Centenos let us cut across a
corner of their property for a footpath. Foot bridge will be removed when the new bridge
 is complete.
Nov. 9
 Joel and I, along with the help of Bob Bigelow, Patrick Fredrickson, and an ever changing
entourage of onlookers, suggestion makers, and cheerleaders, got the support beam for 
the footbridge across the creek and in place. Patrick is rounding up materials for the decking.
The footbridge should be finished in a couple of days.
Nov. 10
 I was expecting to get enough info from the engineer to order the I-beam for the new bridge.
Never heard from him. Ordered part of the wood decking. Will use it to deck the footbridge.
It will be moved to the new bridge later. Did some more work to the footbridge.
The footbridge should be looking pretty good by Wednesday night. Will contact the engineer 
tomorrow and find out what is the hold-up.
Nov. 11
 Got 1/2 of the decking on the footbridge. Had a meeting,attended by quite a few Cantu Lane
property owners, with representatives of Fema, SBA, and state and local emergency 
response agencies. A lot of material to digest. We will put together proposals based on 
information that was given us and call a meeting in a couple of weeks. 
Nov. 12
 Patrick Fredrickson and Corey Rose got the remainder of the decking installed 
on the footbridge. This would be a good time for somebody to step forward and
volunteer to put up a handrail and some steps. Got the info frome the engineer
detailing specs for required I-beam and have found some good prices. 
I want to get a better indication of a positive response in the county permit process 
before actually ordering.
Nov. 13
 Looked into some of the details of CRID. The county estimates that it would cost 
us $2,000,000.00 to do that program. Chris Jenson says that she has been looking
into a different angle on this that may be affordable. I will wait to see the details 
before making further comment.
Nov. 14
 Started looking into details of the permit process, the goal is to have things ready to go 
as soon after the engineer's drawings are ready as possible. Learned that the county will
not issue a permit directly to the Association. I made arrangements with a contractor to 
have the permits issued under his liscense.
Nov. 15
 Dealt with paperwork for a while then worked on the hand rail for the footbridge for a
few hours. Got about half of the posts in place. Pulled the fallen beam out from under 
the bridge and out of the creek. With heavy rain and wind in the forecast, there was 
concern that the beam could catch debris coming downstream and have a dam effect
which could cause further damage to our bridge.
Nov. 16
 Worked on paperwork in the morning. Rain let up in the afternoon so Lesa and I finished
putting up posts for handrails on the footbridge. Corey Rose and Patrick Fredrickson
will attach the rails this week. We saw a dozen or so salmon heading upstream while
we were working.
Nov. 18
 What was it, Monday night that we had so much wind and rain? Whever it was, a power
surge took out my #1 computer. Just now getting it back up. We have the engineer's 
plans for the bridge and have applied for the permits. There are still a few details to work out,
but things are coming together well. About 1/2 of the benefitted parcels have paid the bridge 
assessment. If we could get everbody to pay, we could finish this project without going in
debt. Hope for a break in the weather.
Nov. 21
 We have the permits. I-Beam has been ordered. We have enough money to get started, 
but we will go broke real quick unless everybody pays their share.
Nov. 30
 This is supposedly a daily account of the bridge project, but I took a few days off from the
updates. It probably won't be the last time. The beams have been cut to length and now I 
need to lay out some holes that will be used to attach nailers and to attach to the abutments.
I had hoped to drive a couple of test piles over the thanksgiving weekend, but couldn't make the 
equipment arrangements. I will set that up for next weekend. Phil Jenson has gone over the
plans and given me a tentative material list to form and pour the abutments. Form materials will
be ordered this week. Gene Klinkert built steps for the Holly Road side of the foot bridge. Money 
continues to trickle in. Twenty-two properties have paid the $400.00 bridge assessment. I think
all but four, maybe five, have paid the regular dues. Things continue to progress.
Dec. 5
 A lot has happened in the last few days. A lot of material has been ordered and is on site.
Tomorrow (Saturday) we will start driving pilings. We really won't have any idea how long it will
take until we have driven a few. Every attempt will be made to keep traffic moving, but there will
be some delays. This weekend we can use a lot of help. Stop by the bridge and offer your services, 
and I will give you something to do. An inspector from the Small Business Administration will be here 
tomorrow to assess our needs and loan qualifications. I spent the evening putting together a 
packet for him. A summary of the info for him is this:
Expenses so far.......................................10,732.42
Bridge fund collected...................................9410.00
As you can clearly see, we need more money if we are going to complete this project and still
manage to do any road maintenance this year. So far 23 properties have paid the bridge fund 
assessment. That leaves an even dozen that have not been paid. If you are reading this and you 
are one of the twelve, we need you to meet your obligation.
Dec. 7
 We drove some pilings this weekend. Saturday went real well and we got all of the pilings driven 
for the ingress (west) side of the bridge. Sunday we did not fare nearly as well. Our pile driving
equipment malfunctioned and even though we worked hard at it all day, we were unable to complete
the pilings. Plan B is now in development.
Dec. 8
 Plan B is to continue with Plan A next saturday. Dale Dahl, who was kind enough to loan  
us the"Vulcan Hammer", says  he is sure that the hammer got some foriegn material 
inside it from one of the air hoses which caused it to malfunction. I will tear into it and get  
it working for this weekend. I have started cutting holes to secure the nailers to the I-beams. 
I took this week off work so I can get the beams ready for paint, and accomplish a few other 
things in the name of progress.The way things are shaping up it looks like we will be without 
a bridge for two weeks at some point.I thought that I had a way to get traffic over the abutments 
while the concrete cured, but it turned out to be cost prohibitive. I am open to suggestions. 
 I will be meeting with a lawyer tomorrow afternoon to go over details of Association business,   
and to look into collection options. Have I mentioned that our goal is 100% participation in  
the assessments? If I count the two verbal commitments that I have received this week, the   
annual assessments and bridge assessments paid will be at 94.2% and 71.4% respectively.
Late notices for the bridge assessment will be going out this week.
Dec. 12
 Steve McCorkle, who just bought one of the cooper properties on Goldfinch, brought a three 
man crew out today and they painted the bridge I-beams with coal-tar epoxy. He did the job
for a price that hasn't been beat since Tom Sawyer tricked his buddies into paying him to let
them white-wash his aunt's fence. If you see Steve go by in his Xtreme Painting van, give him
a "tip of the hat".
 Between Corey Rose, Dale Marak, and I, we got the Vulcan hammer apart and back together.
We found some foriegn material inside that we suspect was the cause of the problems. 
Tomorrow we plan to finish driving the pilings. 
 Phil Jenson has begun work on the forms for the abutments. The plan is to get as much 
pre-fabbed as possible then, when the time comes, to dig holes and set forms with a lot
of the work already done. 
Dec. 13
 The pneumatic hammer worked like a charm. All the piles are driven and we can concentrate 
on other aspects of the project. Gene Klinkert and Jim Bleich made some major progress
towards getting all the nailers attached to the I-beams. Ed Miller gave loaned us his portable
carport to use as a cover in the fabrication area. Phil says, "Thanks, Ed". I will be metting with a 
friend of mine on Sunday who has a lot of experience building roads. He will look over our project 
and make some recommendations for building up the road bed for the approach to the bridge. I
will begin ordering material based on his suggestions this week and start stockpiling on the 
backside of the bridge.
Dec. 17
 Things continue to fall into place. I'm sure we will be working out details right up to the last 
minute, but we should begin dismantling the old bridge at 9 a.m. Saturday. Word is that a
reporter from the Bremerton Sun will be on site some time this weekend. We have received
a lot of support from local businesses. Materials donated or discounted add up to thousands
in savings for us.
Dec. 25
 The old bridge is gone and work on the concrete forms for the new abutments is progressing.
We should have little problem being ready for inspection on Monday the 29th. We are running 
short on rebar but we may have enough by peicing things together. Anybody having rebar 
laying around that you could donate to the cause, please contact me. There is a lot of work 
to be done salvaging the planks from the old bridge. Work will continue friday.
Dec. 27
 We had a handful of men, and Lesa, down at the bridge on Friday tying up the last of the rebar.
We will put in a few kickers around the forms to insure that we don't have a blow-out when we 
pour. I think we are ready for the inspector on Monday. Saturday we had five men from Dale 
Marak's church show up to help salvage the planks from the old bridge. Dale, Gene Klinkert,
Lesa, and I teamed up with them and worked through the pile in about three hours. We salvaged 
about twenty usable planks. At $36 a plank that was a worthwhile effort. Work continues daily.
Dec. 31
 The inspector showed up about a quarter to 5:00 Monday and gave us the okay to pour the 
footings. Footings were poured Tuesday. All of the welding that has to be inspected has been
done and the welding inspector is scheduled for next Monday. We hit a slight SNAFU concerning
the snap-ties for the remaining forms, but there are always alternative methods to achieve the 
desired results, so we are still planning to set the forms this weekend. Cross your fingers and 
hope that we are ready for the second stage pour on Tuesday.
Jan. 11, 2004
 The forms for the second stage pour are ready for inspection. We expect to pour concrete on
Wednesday.
Jan. 14
 The concrete has been poured. We plan to strip the forms on Friday and begin backfill and 
clean-up this weekend. Durbin Resources will be here with excavators Wednesday to set the 
remaining big rock and I-beams in place. 
Feb. 8, 2004
 It has been a while since my last entry here, but a lot has been accomplished. The bridge 
has been open for traffic for about three weeks now. The permanent safety rails are near 
completion and a lot of progress has been made towards getting things back to normal. 
Some of what needs to be done, to complete clean-up, will have to wait until we have a 
stretch of dry weather. I guess what that means is that we will be dinking with details until
well into summer. 
Feb. 9
 Oops! I have been informed that the bridge has only been open for 2 weeks. 
Time sure flies when your having fun!
Feb. 13
 We have been inspected and approved. Clean-up continues and we have bills to pay!