Construction Briefing No. 30
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

December 20, 2011

Sidewalks, Paving Now Complete!

Just after 10:00 am this morning, the last section of new sidewalk paving was finished. Effectively, this milestone brings to a close the installation of hard surfaces on Pioneer Way and literally “paves” the way toward final completion. Obviously, some work remains to dress up the Ireland to Ilwaco block consistent with the rest of the street (railing, landscaping, benches, sidewalk grid, planter pots, etc.). Strider will also be busy starting January 3 checking off the remaining punchlist items. Plus, everyone seems to be looking forward to the day when the private utility conversions are complete and the wires and poles can be removed, very likely within the first three months of 2012. Bringing the wires down will also allow the contractor to install the rest of the streetlights. Bottom line, a significant threshold crossed in completing the paving and sidewalks, but some work still to accomplish early next year.

Please note that starting this Thursday, December 22, and continuing until Tuesday, January 3, neither Strider nor any of their subcontractors will be working. However, you may see one or more of the utility companies (PSE, Frontier, Comcast) or private electrical contractors working on the underground conversion work during this period.

A Big Thank You from your Project Staff

A number of you with businesses and/or properties on and around Pioneer Way have been kind enough to express your appreciation for our day to day efforts to keep the project moving and find ways to make a tough situation just a little bit more tolerable. Rhonda, Joe and I (along with all City staff who had a hand in supporting the project) thank you for that support but, truly, it is all of you who deserve our thanks. You welcomed us to downtown, your neighborhood, and we hope that we have paid back that welcome to the best of our abilities. Our work with you continues into 2012 and we look forward to wrapping things up in style. For the moment, seasonal warm wishes to one and all and see you soon on Pioneer!

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org


Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org



Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Construction Alert No. 29
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

December 13, 2011

Revised Archaeological Excavation Permit Expected Tomorrow Morning

Based on conversations with the State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, it appears highly probable that the City will receive its permit revision tomorrow morning. The revisions will specifically authorize paving the parking spaces in front of Mike’s Mini Mart and hand excavating about 1-3 inches in a 50-foot stretch of the southern sidewalk near the Pioneer entry steps to Mi Pueblo. The archaeology crew will return tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. The screening fence will be in place during excavation but the work is projected to be completed in one day. With the exception of ongoing construction monitoring, this effort will effectively complete the archaeological excavation work on Pioneer Way.

Sidewalks Coming

Depending on weather and likely starting tomorrow (Wednesday), S & S Concrete will return to being pouring the sidewalks in the unfinished section, including those parking spaces in front of Mike’s Mini Mart. According to the contractor’s schedule, sidewalk installation will take about 4 to 5 working days to complete so we are hopeful of several dry days between now and the Christmas holiday.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org


Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org


Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Construction Alert No. 27
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

December 8, 2011

Paving Tomorrow Between Ireland and Ilwaco

With the aid of some beneficial December weather, Strider is slightly ahead of schedule in their efforts to complete the unfinished stretch of Pioneer Way. As a result, Lakeside Industries will arrive on the street tomorrow (Friday) morning to pave the Ireland and Ilwaco intersections and the remaining piece of Pioneer Way. Their plan is to complete the paving to full depth in one day, meaning that the street should be fully in place and accessible by the end of the day.

Unfortunately, we do not expect to receive our archaeological permit revision for the raised northern parking area between Ilwaco and Ireland (in front of Mike’s Mini Mart) until Wednesday of next week, so those spaces will not be paved tomorrow with the rest of the street. However, these spaces will be paved with concrete either late next week or early the following week when the concrete subcontractors return to pour the new sidewalks. Weather permitting, all asphalt and concrete work should be complete before the Christmas holiday weekend.

Brief Detour Tomorrow Morning

Also, the presence of the paving crew in town means that the striping subcontractor will also be here. To take advantage of their presence, we have asked them to repair the turn arrow on Pioneer just west of Dock Street (in front of Glamorous). A brief detour will be necessary but we have asked the subcontractor to re-open the street no later than 11:00 am. We apologize for any inconvenience.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org


Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org


Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Construction Alert No. 27
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

November 30, 2011

Construction Resumes on Pioneer Way

While their completion schedule is unpredictable due to the weather, it was encouraging to welcome Strider Construction back into town yesterday morning. With the forecast this week looking quite promising, we are hopeful that good progress can be made on the unfinished section between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets. Regrettably, there will be periodic street closures east of Hathaway but the street will always be open late afternoons and evenings, and of course on weekends. Strider is aware of the tree lighting and other festivities on Saturday and will work to make the site as safe and neat as possible.

Here is what we know at the moment about the sequence of work:

● Starting yesterday and continuing for the remainder of the week, the Strider crew will be bringing the road and curb areas to the grade needed to finish building the street. Some work will also be occurring in the sidewalk and planter areas to remove excess dirt and raise utility vaults to the required height.

● Weather permitting, curbs and gutters will be formed and poured next week. Unlike the earlier phases of the project, paving will happen before sidewalks and as soon as possible after the curbs and gutters are in place.

● Once the new asphalt is in place, Strider will complete preparation of the sidewalk areas before bringing the concrete subcontractor back to pour the sidewalks. Successful concrete work is highly dependent on favorable weather conditions so predicting the timing for this part of the job is the most problematic.

● Completion of the last section of handrail, adding topsoil and landscaping in the pots and planters and placing street amenities (benches, garbage cans, bike racks, street lights, etc.) will be scheduled once the sidewalks are installed.

Remaining Archaeological Work

While the vast majority of the Pioneer Way archaeological work has been completed, there are two tasks remaining besides the ongoing monitoring during construction. These tasks are described below:

● A relatively small triangle of hand excavation work is necessary directly in front of the Oak Harbor Tavern to complete the curve into the Ilwaco alley. This area could not be excavated inside the original fenced enclosure for the simple reason that it was underneath or just outside the fence. This work should be completed by Friday of this week.

● The top 4 inches of soil from a short section of the southern sidewalk area must be excavated by hand due to the proximity of known cultural resources.

Key City Contact People
Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Project Alert No. 26
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

November 21, 2011

Archaeologists Return Tomorrow for One Day of Testing

Tomorrow (Tuesday), a small team of archaeologists from Northwest Archaeological Associates will be back on Pioneer Way for additional testing on the north half of the street between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets. The purpose of the testing is to determine whether or not additional cultural materials might be present in the top 0-6 inches of soil where the sidewalks will be installed. Some soil needs to be removed in order to pour the sidewalks. Most of the testing will be concentrated near the Ireland and Ilwaco intersections and should take no more than one day to complete. There will be a short lane closure of about one hour at the Ireland Street intersection starting around 8:00 am.

Should additional human remains or other cultural materials be uncovered during the testing, it is likely that those specific areas will have to be hand excavated and screened by the archaeologists. We should know very soon how much, if any, hand excavation will be needed.

As a reminder, Strider Construction is scheduled to return to work on Pioneer Way during the week following the Thanksgiving holiday.

Key City Contact People
Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Construction Alert No. 25
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

November 8, 2011

Fencing Removed Between Ilwaco and Ireland Streets

Based on the number of smiles on the street this afternoon, it is safe to say that there is plenty of relief along Pioneer Way that the barrier fencing around the archaeological site has finally come down. City Public Works crews completed construction this morning on the temporary driving surface along the southern half of the street and, as can be seen in the photograph below, it has been opened to traffic. A big thanks to the crew for making short work of the transition from archaeological dig to functional street!



As noted last week, a design change for the northern half is nearing readiness that will eliminate the need for any additional excavation in the parking area on the north side. While some testing will still be required in sidewalk areas, in the transitions at the bottom of Ireland and Ilwaco Streets, and in other locations where conduit is still needed, there should be no need to re-install fencing on the north side. Strider Construction is still scheduled to return to complete the street following the Thanksgiving holiday.

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Construction Alert No. 24

November 4, 2011

Pioneer Way Archaeological Work Winds Down

Today (Friday), Northwest Archaeological Associates will wrap up work within the main excavation and recovery area between Ilwaco and Ireland Streets that has been fenced and screened since late June. In bringing what will be the new street down to the required grade, the archaeologists have recovered all exposed cultural materials and removed them for temporary storage in preparation for re-burial at a later date.

On Monday morning, the City crew will move into the site and lay geotextile fabric over the excavated area, followed immediately by gravel spread over the fabric to form the base of the new street. The gravel will then be compacted and leveled for use by vehicles (it will not be paved until later). Once the southern lane is ready for travel (likely late that same day or Tuesday), the fencing will be removed and the traffic re-routed from the north lane to the south lane.

Looking ahead, the original plan called for moving the archaeological crews to the northern half of the street once the southern half could be used for traffic. City staff have been working on a possible design change for the northern half that would, if successful, eliminate the need for any additional excavation in the parking area planned for the north side. If we are successful with this change, the remaining archaeological work would be limited to shallow testing in sidewalk areas and other locations where conduit is still needed, relatively minor excavation in transitional areas at the foot of Ireland and Ilwaco Streets, and monitoring during trenching.

Strider Construction will return to finish building the street following completion of the final archaeological testing and excavation – tentatively right after Thanksgiving. Obviously, weather has become the biggest factor in determining the pace of final completion.

As always, please give us a shout if you have questions.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

October 21, 2011

Good afternoon,

This week’s briefing will be a little different from previous editions. With work winding down within about 85% of the project boundaries but still very active between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets, it seems useful to step back a bit and provide a more comprehensive overview of the remaining tasks. While the 85% has been deemed “substantially” complete in accordance with the City’s contract with Strider Construction, work is still underway to reach “physical” completion. Of course, completion of the archaeology block will not begin until it has been cleared for construction.

Here is what we know at the moment about how the project will reach full completion:

The Punchlist

□ A small crew from Strider Construction will be on the street Monday through Wednesday of next week working on the project “punchlist.” This list was created to document the remaining work tasks, from small to large, including those on private property where some damage has occurred as a result of the construction (chipped windows, broken tiles, uneven thresholds, etc.).

□ Of the remaining punchlist items, only a small number will likely be disruptive to pedestrian and/or vehicular travel. Of particular note is the ongoing work to re-line the old manholes and the upcoming work to sandblast (for texture) the concrete panels that provide a transition between the large and small sidewalk grid patterns.

□ There are several items on the punchlist that will be completed when the contractor and subcontractors return to town to complete the archaeological area.

□ The street, sidewalks, parking and other improvements in the unfinished area between Ireland and Ilwaco will be completed at the conclusion of the archaeology work. Subject to the availability of subcontractors and, of course, our fall and winter weather, Strider anticipates that the time needed to finish off this final section could be 4 to 6 weeks.

The Archaeology

□ The crew from Northwest Archaeological Associates is on track to complete excavation work within the southern half of Pioneer Way by the end of next week or the beginning of the following week.

□ When the southern half has been completed, the temporary fencing will be moved to the northern half of the street to enclose the future parking area in front of Mike’s Mini Mart (we anticipate that neither Ireland nor Ilwaco will be blocked by the fencing). Concurrent with moving the fencing, the southern half of the street will be prepped for traffic and will become the new temporary driving lane.

□ Once the enclosure is in place on the northern half, Northwest Archaeological Associates will begin excavation to recover any human remains or other cultural materials in this area. While we obviously can’t be certain until the work is underway, the expectation is that finding significant new discoveries on the north side is fairly remote given the degree of recent disturbance from utility work and the relatively shallow excavation needed to build the street.

□ Looking ahead, recovery work within the piles of soil removed from Pioneer Way and deposited at a local gravel pit must still be scheduled and completed.

The Underground Power Conversions

□ The entire project area has now been energized by Puget Sound Energy (Potelco) and is available for connection by those customers who must convert their overhead lines to a new underground service. By State law, these conversions must be completed within 90 days from when the underground power is available. The last group of customers has been notified that they have until January 18, 2012 to complete their conversion work.

□ Once all the customer conversions have been completed (likely at some point early in 2012), PSE, Frontier and Comcast can remove their overhead wires from the poles and soon thereafter the poles themselves can be pulled. Lastly, the sidewalk will be repaired where the poles were removed and the rest of the street lights can be installed.

The Project Office

□ The “For Lease” sign is up at 720 SE Pioneer Way, Suite 1. The City has given notice that it will be pulling up stakes at the Pioneer Construction Office by November 10, 2011.

□ Project staff will mostly be out by November 4 although we will still be working actively on the street until the project is finished. Please note that one or more of us will continue to be available on Tuesday mornings beginning November 8 between 9:00 am and 10:00 am, most likely at Angelo’s Caffe.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office (only two more chances!)
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

October 19, 2011

Homecoming Parade Tomorrow (Thursday 10/20) at 5:30

For those who may not have heard, the annual excitement of homecoming (with the Wildcats at 7-0 this season, the level of excitement might just be higher than normal!) will arrive tomorrow (Thursday) on Pioneer Way. Between 5:30 and 6:30 pm, there will be a homecoming parade from City Beach Street to Midway Boulevard. Parking will be restricted starting at 5:00 pm and the street will be reopened as soon as possible after the parade passes through key intersections. Strider Construction and staff will do everything we can to have the street looking sharp for the event.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org


Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Briefing No. 33
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

October 7, 2011

Good afternoon,

Yesterday (Thursday), the project reached the stage of “substantial completion” in all areas except the block directly affected by the ongoing archaeological work. As noted before, there is still work to be accomplished before the project is physically complete (including bringing down the power lines and poles, completing punch list tasks and repairs, and actually building the street between Ireland and Ilwaco), but substantial completion is a major milestone. To mark the progress so far, the downtown merchants are busy planning “Pioneer Way Celebrates” on October 15. A day full of activities includes a fun run on the new street, food, music, poker walk, ribbon cutting, chalk art (weather permitting), Native American youth dancers and “a sweet taste of Pioneer Way.” Watch for ads in local newspapers for details.

For approximately the next three weeks, most of the construction activity on the street will be concentrated on completing items from the punch list. While most of these tasks are relatively minor, several work items will likely cause some disturbance and/or traffic impacts. One of the largest, replacing the two flawed sidewalk panels in front of the Pioneer Way project office and Casual House, will likely occur on Monday of next week. Also on tap for next week is the pouring of the replacement sidewalk on the upper east side of Dock Street.

Construction Work

□ The landscaping subcontractor completed topsoil application and irrigation in the remaining planter islands and the last trees and plants were put into the fresh topsoil. Work began today on applying the top layer of mulch to the planter islands. Next week, the Oak Harbor Garden Club, City Parks staff and volunteers will join together to plant the new ceramic pots.

□ Iron was raised last week, meaning that all the manholes and valve casings were brought up to be flush with the new paving. The patches are only temporary and will be replaced when the paving crew returns to complete work on the archaeology block.

□ Puget Sound Energy and Frontier Communications are both working on the street pulling wire through the new underground power and communications network. Phase 2 (east of Dock) was energized by mid-week.

□ Strider Construction continued to work on installing the “amenities,” including handrails, landscaping, streetlights, planters, benches, bike racks, tree grates, permanent signs and streetside restoration.

The Archaeological Work

□ City officials and the City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), welcomed the arrival of a revised excavation permit on Monday, October 3. NWAA began work on Tuesday inside the archaeological enclosure to remove the top 10” or so of dirt to allow the street to be completed. This material will be screened for human remains and other cultural materials with any new discoveries set aside for reburial. This work is expected to take about four weeks to complete.

□ Archaeological monitoring is continuing whenever Strider or one of their subcontractors performs any excavation work.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 Pioneer Way Celebrates!
Lots of Merchant-Sponsored Activities on the new street and sidewalks
Fun Run, Food, Music, Poker Walk Chalk Art (weather permitting), Sidewalk Sale and Much More
Ribbon Cutting at Dock and Pioneer, 12-2


Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Construction Alert No. 21
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

October 4, 2011

“Raising Iron” Raises Some Questions

At this morning’s regular Tuesday AM coffee, we were asked about why the contractor was jackhammering holes into the freshly completed paving. Great question and certainly worthy of a quick construction alert. It is standard practice in street construction to bring the water valve casings and manholes up to street level after the final asphalt has been applied. This process, termed “raising iron” in construction-speak, involves removing the asphalt above these structures using a jackhammer, installing risers to bring them up to street level and then patching the area around the hole.

A natural follow-up question is why can’t these structures be brought up to finished street level prior to paving? Put simply, it is to protect both the underground utilities and the paving equipment from potential damage should the paver catch on the edge of the structure. Not only would it damage the equipment, but it would likely pull the structure out of alignment or, worse, break the structure itself and/or the underground pipes that connect to it.

The raising iron work is scheduled to be completed by Thursday of this week.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Briefing No. 32
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 29, 2011

Good evening,

Based on conversations with a number of downtown merchants, we know that the City staff, City officials and contractors are not the only people keeping a close eye on the weather forecast these days. With final paving and striping scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday this week, everyone we talked with seemed to be hoping that we might get lucky and string together two dry days in late September. That hope did not go unrewarded. While these paving days clearly caused some significant disruptions, the work was completed under sunny skies and it is terrific to have most of the major street work behind us. Many thanks to everyone for your patience during final paving.

The project, minus the block between Ireland and Ilwaco, is now less than a week from “substantial completion” as defined in our contract with Strider Construction. Work beyond this date, including final landscaping, bringing down the power lines and poles, punchlist corrections (including fixing damage to private property) and completing the archaeology block will obviously continue until everything is complete. The downtown merchants are busy planning “Pioneer Way Celebrates” on October 15. Activities include a fun run on the new street, food, music, poker walk, ribbon cutting, balloons, chalk art (weather permitting) and “a sweet taste of Pioneer Way.” Watch for ads in local newspapers for details.

Construction Work

□ The landscaping subcontractor completed topsoil application and irrigation testing most planter islands and is set to begin putting in the new plants. The first trees should arrive in their new locations beginning tomorrow and likely continuing on Saturday.

□ Final paving and striping for the entire project minus the archaeological block was completed on Wednesday and Thursday.

□ Puget Sound Energy, Frontier Communications and Comcast are all working on the street pulling wire and installing equipment in the new underground power and communications network.

□ Strider Construction continued to work on installing the “amenities,” including handrails, landscaping, streetlights, planters, benches, bike racks, tree grates, permanent signs and streetside restoration.

The Archaeological Work

□ City officials and the City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), are expecting the State to issue a revised excavation permit on Monday, October 3. With that expectation, NWAA is planning to begin work on Tuesday inside the archaeological enclosure to remove the top 10” or so of dirt to allow the street to be completed. This material will be screened for human remains and other cultural materials with any new discoveries set aside for reburial.

□ Archaeological monitoring is continuing whenever Strider or one of their subcontractors performs any excavation work.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES
Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15
Pioneer Way Celebrates!
Lots of Merchant-Sponsored Activities on the new street and sidewalks
Fun Run, Food, Music, Poker Walk, Chalk Art (weather permitting), Sidewalk Sale and Much More
Ribbon Cutting at Dock and Pioneer, 12-2


Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org


Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Construction Alert No. 20
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 27, 2011

Final Paving Tomorrow and Thursday - Details

Assuming the weather forecast for tomorrow is reasonably accurate (dry and warming), the paving crew will arrive tomorrow morning to lay down the final layer of asphalt from end to end with the obvious exception of the block between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets. The work is scheduled from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm both Wednesday and Thursday. This Alert contains the most current information we have on how this work will progress.


* PLEASE NOTE *
For those merchants with breakables on shelves, we would ask that you please pay special attention to securing them as the vibration of the steamroller can work these items off a shelf pretty quickly. Thanks!


WEDNESDAY

1. Pioneer Way will be closed to traffic and parking beginning at 7:00 am between Ireland and Ely Streets.

2. The paving crew will start with the side streets at Hathaway and Dock Streets.

3. Next up will be the parking areas between Ireland and Dock Streets. The striping subcontractor will apply the parking space lines while the asphalt is still warm.

4. The pavers will then move back to Ireland Street and lay the driving lane as far as the western side of Dock Street. Once again, the striping crew will apply stop bars and crosswalks on the warm asphalt.

5. Once past Dock Street, the crew will first pave the parking areas as far as Ely Street, and then pull back to Dock to pave the driving lane to just west of Ely. Striping follows as before.

6. Pioneer Way between City Beach and Ely Street will be closed when the crew reaches Ely, probably sometime during early to mid-afternoon.

7. The pavers will finish the day using the same parking areas first and driving lane second sequence as before. They estimate that paving will conclude for the day just short of the City Beach Street intersection.

8. Segments of Pioneer Way will be re-opened for traffic once the inspector has determined that the asphalt and striping have cured sufficiently to support heavier vehicles.

THURSDAY

1. Again starting at 7:00 am with a detour at City Beach Street, the crews will pave and stripe the intersection first thing in the morning.

2. Once the intersection is complete, the paving contractor will re-mobilize to the east end of the project between Ilwaco and Midway. This section of the street will be closed at that time which the contractor estimates will be around 10:30 or 11:00 am.

3. The first paving will occur within the parking spaces next to Whidbey Coffee, move to the side street at Jensen Street, then to the parking spaces just east of the archaeological enclosure and in front of My Fathers House Thrift Store.

4. The crew will then pave the driving surface between the archaeological enclosure and Midway Boulevard.

5. As needed, asphalt patches will be placed in those private parking lots which were disturbed during construction.

6. In common with the Wednesday paving, this east section of Pioneer Way will be re-opened for traffic once the inspector has determined that the asphalt and striping have cured sufficiently to support heavier vehicles.

City staff and Strider’s flaggers will be out in force to assist with getting customers where they need to go and to help facilitate deliveries to shops up and down the street. If you are a merchant and need help tomorrow or Thursday, please do let one of us know so we can provide assistance.


Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Briefing No. 31
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 23, 2011

Good afternoon,

The base layer of paving was completed last Monday night and into Tuesday morning over all remaining gravel surfaces except those in the immediate vicinity of the archaeological work. The final finishing layer from City Beach Street to Midway Boulevard is scheduled during daylight hours next week for Wednesday and Thursday, September 28 and 29, weather permitting. As noted in yesterday’s Construction Alert, these two days are likely to be amongst the most disruptive to vehicle traffic since the project began, not only due to the paving but also to the need to apply the striping and other pavement markings while the asphalt is still warm. Flaggers will be in place and drivers should expect detours.

Also, please be aware that the contractor intends to work Saturdays at least until the substantial completion deadline of October 6. Tomorrow’s work will concentrate on installing the street furniture, landscaping and irrigation.

Construction Work

□ The landscaping subcontractor completed topsoil application within several more planter islands and is set to begin putting in the new plants.

□ The Filterra stormwater vaults were activated on Wednesday, complete with the bamboo plants that will assist with removing impurities from street runoff. Obviously, drainage cannot get to the vaults until the final asphalt is in place next week.

□ Puget Sound Energy and Frontier Communications are both working on the street pulling wire through the new underground power and communications network. Signal “loops,” the in-street wires that trigger traffic light control at the Midway and City Beach intersections, were installed last week.

□ Strider Construction continued to work on installing the “amenities,” including handrails, landscaping, streetlights, planters, benches, bike racks, tree grates, permanent signs and streetside restoration.

□ Final paving over the full length of the project should occur next Wednesday and Thursday, depending on weather. This work will include patching of private parking lots disturbed during construction.

The Archaeological Work

□ City officials and the City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), met with State and Tribal officials on September 15 to determine how to handle the additional human remains that were discovered within several of the test pits. The City expects to receive the revised excavation permit next week and the archaeologists will return to begin removing the top 10” or so to allow the street to be completed.

□ Archaeological monitoring is continuing whenever Strider or one of their subcontractors performs any excavation work.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 Pioneer Way Celebrates!
Lots of Merchant-Sponsored Activities on the new street and sidewalks
Fun Run, Food, Music, Chalk Art (weather permitting), Sidewalk Sale and Much More
Ribbon Cutting at Dock and Pioneer

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914 7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org


Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Construction Alert No. 19
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 22, 2011

Final Paving Next Week – Prepare for Detours

Weather permitting, the paving crew will return to town next Wednesday and Thursday (September 28 and 29) to lay down the final layer of asphalt from end to end with the obvious exception of the block between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets. In addition to placing the final 2 inches of asphalt on the driving lane and parking areas, the pavers will patch private parking lots that were disturbed during construction. While the asphalt is still warm, Strider will apply the permanent striping to the new surface, include parking areas, stop bars and pedestrian crossings. All in all, it adds up to a significant step forward toward the final design of Pioneer Way.

Unfortunately, while this work will bring us much closer to substantial completion, the actual paving days themselves will likely be very disruptive to vehicular traffic. Strider is still working through final details on the sequence of work, traffic control and detour routes, but it is safe to conclude that access into and out of downtown will be severely affected. To the extent possible, blocks will be opened for traffic once the street is ready, but the need to add striping will necessarily lengthen the amount of time when the street is closed.

City staff and Strider’s flaggers will be out in force to assist with getting customers where they need to go and to help facilitate deliveries to shops up and down the street. If you are a merchant and know that you have a delivery scheduled on one of the paving days, please do let us know so we can plan ahead to provide assistance. Likewise, for those merchants with breakables on shelves, we would ask that you pay special attention to securing these items as the vibration of the steamroller can work a glass vase onto the floor pretty quickly.

As more is learned about how the order of paving, we will issue a follow-up construction alert. In the meantime, please let one of us know if we can help you prepare.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Construction Alert No. 18
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 21, 2011

What’s With the Little Bamboo Plants?

In the past hour, we have had two merchants ask about the bamboo plants that have just been “planted” on Pioneer Way so it may be time for a quick construction alert. First, please rest assured that the bamboo plants are not a last minute substitution for the Chanticleer Pear trees that we expect to arrive next week. The bamboo has, in fact, been planted inside the Filterra stormwater vaults and will perform a valuable function in helping to filter impurities that enter the drainage system when it rains. The bamboo species was selected because it is a very hardy and efficient plant that draws up water through its root structure. From an environmental perspective, these vaults are considered to be one of the best techniques available for cleaning stormwater runoff before it reaches Puget Sound. The maximum height will be about 4 feet. Maintenance is fairly simple and will be performed by our Public Works staff.

Feel free to give us a shout if you would like further information.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Briefing No. 30
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 16, 2011

Good morning,

Over the past week and into next week, the vast majority of the hard surfaces (asphalt and concrete) will have been placed over the full length of the project with the obvious exception of the archaeology block between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets. The unpaved street sections east of Dock, the asphalt patches on Dock between Pioneer and Bayshore, and the City Beach Street intersection will all be paved on Monday night starting about 6 pm. Final paving and striping is tentatively scheduled for the week of September 26.

The State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) convened a meeting yesterday with Tribal and City officials to discuss how to proceed with the archaeological work on Pioneer Way between Ireland and Ilwaco. In a very productive meeting, it was agreed that the archaeologists can move ahead to remove approximately the top 10” of dirt by hand in the primary discovery area where asphalt will eventually be placed. Ten inches is the depth needed to actually build the street. All human remains and cultural artifacts encountered within this 10” layer will be removed and eventually reburied along with the resources recovered earlier.

Once the south lane excavation is complete, Strider will construct the street to allow traffic to begin using this lane. Archaeological work will then move to the northern half of the street to again remove the top 10” in the parking space area using the same artifact recovery protocol. Once the north side work is complete, all barriers will come down and Strider will complete construction of this block. All of this work is subject to a revised permit from DAHP which should be issued by the end of next week. By that time, we should also have a good estimate of how long the archaeological work will take and when the street work can be wrapped up. We will supply this information when we receive it.

Construction Work

□ Phase 1 - The landscaping subcontractor completed topsoil application within several more planter islands near Dock Street. The concrete subcontractor completed filling the sidewalks gaps around the power poles.

□ Phase 1 – Beginning around noon on Monday, Strider will begin removing the damaged surface at City Beach Street. Every effort will be made to preserve one-way traffic through this area but delays are likely. This intersection will be paved on Monday night.

□ Phase 2 – Sidewalks were completed last week between Dock and Ireland and between Ilwaco and Midway and work is underway to cut the decorative grid pattern within these areas.

□ Phase 2 – Work began last week to prepare the street base between Dock and Ireland and between Ilwaco and Midway in anticipation of paving on Monday night, September 19.

□ Phase 2 – Irrigation and electrical work kept pace with the sidewalk installation, including on the north side of the archaeological enclosure.

□ Phases 1 and 2 – Strider will again be working tomorrow (Saturday) to complete preparations for the Monday night paving. .

□ Phases 1 and 2 - Starting next week and continuing for the two weeks following, work will concentrate on installing the “amenities,” including handrails, landscaping, streetlights, planters, benches, bike racks, tree grates, permanent signs and streetside restoration.

The Archaeological Work

□ City officials and the City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), met with State and Tribal officials on September 15 to determine how to handle the additional human remains that were discovered within several of the test pits. See above for the results of this meeting.

□ Archaeological monitoring is continuing whenever Strider or one of their subcontractors performs any excavation work.

Question of the Week

Q. Why have the contractors paved the sidewalks right up to the power poles? Aren’t these poles going to be pulled out when the wires come down?

A. Yes, the poles will be pulled out once all the customers on the street are connected to the new underground system. However, in all likelihood, it will be at least several months before everyone is hooked up and it was felt that paving the sidewalk around each pole would be safer and provide a cleaner all-weather surface. Once the time arrives to remove the poles, the concrete will be sawcut on the incised grid lines, the poles will be removed and the square then patched to match the rest of the sidewalk.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914 7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Construction Alert No. 17
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 14, 2011

Paving Monday Night, September 19 – Expect Detours

Strider Construction has confirmed that the paving crew plans to work from about 6:00 pm on Monday evening to about 7:00 am on Tuesday morning. This effort will include repaving the City Beach Street/Pioneer Way intersection, patching Dock Street between Pioneer and Bayshore and paving Pioneer Way from Dock to Ireland and from Ilwaco to Midway. While most of the retail shops and offices will be closed by then, we recognize that many restaurants and bars will still be open and that downtown residents must still be able to get to their homes. Every effort will be made to get people to their destinations using a combination of signs and flaggers although some inconvenience should be expected. The newly paved streets should be ready for use on Tuesday morning.

In order to prepare the City Beach Street intersection for paving, Strider crews will begin removing the existing asphalt starting around noon on Monday. They hope to be able to stage the work so that one-way traffic will be maintained through the intersection. Flaggers will obviously be in place but this may be an excellent afternoon to avoid this intersection if you can.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Briefing No. 29
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 9, 2011

Good afternoon,

With the first week of September weather just about ideal for construction and a promising forecast for dry days next week, Strider Construction has every intention of taking advantage of these conditions. By the end of next week, merchants, customers and other visitors to Pioneer Way should be able to walk on new sidewalks in all blocks except between Ireland and Ilwaco where the archaeology work is ongoing. As noted last week and as part of their accelerated completion schedule, the contractor will be working tomorrow (Saturday) from about 7 to 3 to make sure that they are ready for several days of concrete pouring next week, including filling the gravel sidewalk gaps in Phase 1. Tentatively, Strider is also planning to work next Saturday, September 17.

The contractor’s schedule calls for the paving subcontractor to be here on September 19 and 20. Not only are they expected to pave Phase 2 outside the archaeology area, but we will see repair and patching of the City Beach Street intersection and the Dock Street trench between Pioneer and Bayshore. Traffic detours and/or delays will be in place during most of these two days as the paving work is underway.

Construction Work

□ Phase 1 - The landscaping subcontractor completed topsoil application within the planter islands near City Beach Street and at the foot of Ely Street. Next up will be the large planter beds near Dock Street and the gradual placement of street furniture between City Beach and Dock.

□ Phase 1 – As noted above, Strider will be working tomorrow (Saturday) to remove the gravel within the temporary sidewalk patch areas in preparation for concrete early next week. In conjunction with this work, there may be brief traffic and parking interruptions as the crew moves from one location to the next.

□ Phase 2 – Sidewalks were completed between Dock and Hathaway early in the week and work is underway to cut the decorative grid pattern within this section. East of the archaeological enclosure, sidewalks will be about 70% complete by the end of today. Except for the archaeological block, all sidewalks should be in place by the middle of next week.

□ Phase 2 – Work began today to prepare the street base between Dock and Ireland in anticipation of paving on September 19 and 20. This effort will continue into next week both east and west of the archaeological enclosure area.

□ Phase 2 – Irrigation and electrical work kept pace with the sidewalk installation, including on the north side of the archaeological enclosure.

The Archaeological Work

□ City officials and the City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), are anxiously awaiting a September 15 consultation meeting between State, Tribal and City officials to determine how to handle the additional human remains that were discovered within several of the test pits. This meeting should help determine how much archaeological work is still required between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets.

□ Archaeological monitoring is continuing whenever Strider or one of their subcontractors performs any excavation work.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort Joe Stowell Rhonda Severns
Project Manager Project Engineer City Utilities
360 914-7107 360 279-4520 360 914-7256
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 614-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Briefing No. 28
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 1, 2011

Good morning,

While there remains a great deal of uncertainty about when the block between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets will be cleared for construction following the archaeological work, the remainder of the project appears to be tracking strongly toward a revised substantial completion date of October 6 (assuming decent weather during the next five weeks). “Substantial completion” is different from “physical completion” but does include all underground utilities, sidewalks, final paving, striping, handrails, irrigation and signs. It is also very likely that much of the landscaping and street furniture will be installed during this period. Thus, while there will still be work to do after October 6, including completing the Ireland to Ilwaco block and removal of the overhead lines and poles once all the individual property conversions are complete, Pioneer Way should be in good shape as we head deeper into autumn.

Also, please note that the window cleaners will be on the street tomorrow (Friday).

Construction Work

□ Within Phase 1, work continued to complete the irrigation installation and testing. Late this week, the landscaping subcontractor is expected to bring in topsoil and remove the pedestrian barricades around the planting areas. Removal of the two flawed sidewalk panels in front of the Casual House and the Pioneer Project Office should occur during the week of September 6.

□ Efforts within Phase 2 were all about concrete. Between Dock and Ireland Streets, Strider crews stayed one step ahead of S & S Concrete as most of this two block stretch welcomed new sidewalks this week. This work will continue into next week before the concrete subcontractors will move to the east end of the project to begin pouring sidewalks between Ilwaco and Midway Boulevard. With the archaeological work suspended temporarily (see below), City crews reduced the size of the enclosure which will allow Strider enough room to complete the retaining wall across from Whidbey Coffee.

□ Looking ahead to the week of September 12, detail work will continue within Phase 1, especially within the planting areas and on the sidewalks. Most of the work in Phase 2 will be concentrated east of Ilwaco where the current schedule calls for sidewalks to be completed between Midway and the archaeology enclosure. Paving for Phase 2 (except for Ireland to Ilwaco) is currently scheduled for the week of September 19.

The Archaeological Work

□ The City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), in cooperation with Tribal representatives, wrapped up all currently authorized work on Tuesday within the south half of Pioneer Way. The next step will be a consultation meeting between State, Tribal and City officials to determine how to handle the additional human remains that were discovered within the test pits. The State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has scheduled this meeting for mid-September.

□ Archaeological monitoring will continue whenever Strider or one of their contractors performs any excavation work.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org


Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Briefing No. 27
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

August 26, 2011

Good afternoon,

Most everyone is probably aware that the downtown shoreline of Oak Harbor once came up to and often underneath the commercial buildings on the south side of Pioneer Way. Obviously, with the construction of Bayshore Drive (formerly Flintstone Freeway) and the subsequent filling of the area between Bayshore and Pioneer, these buildings lost their immediate connection to the water. In preparing for the new south side sidewalks , this history was obvious to see as gaps were exposed between the sidewalk location and the original slope under two buildings that at one time would have led directly to salt water. To remedy this situation, Strider crews had to custom build forms so that the fresh concrete would not just pour directly into the basements of these buildings. Problem solved and on to this week’s update.

Construction Work

□ Within Phase 1, work will continue to complete the irrigation installation and testing. Once this work has been approved, the landscaping subcontractor will bring in topsoil and remove the pedestrian barricades around the planting areas. In addition, removal of the two flawed sidewalk panels in front of the Casual House and the Pioneer Project Office, originally scheduled for last week, is now on the revised schedule for early in the week of September 6.

□ Efforts within Phase 2 were all about concrete. Between Dock and Ireland Streets, Strider crews concentrated on final preparations for the arrival of new sidewalks next week. Curb gaps were closed and several ADA ramps were poured. S&S Concrete will be back in town on Monday and, beginning at The Rusty Chandelier at Dock and Pioneer, will pour the north side sidewalks as far as Ireland and then move to the south side working back to Dock Street. Please be aware that the grid pattern must be cut into the new sidewalks once dry, a process that can be quite noisy. East of Ilwaco, curb and gutter work was mostly completed which will allow Strider to begin preparing for sidewalks in this area.

□ Looking ahead to the week of September 6, detail work will continue within Phase 1, especially within the planting areas and on the sidewalks. Most of the work in Phase 2 will be concentrated east of Ilwaco where the current schedule calls for sidewalks to begin pouring during the week of September 6. Please note that Strider plans to work Saturday, September 10 to make up the day lost to the Labor Day holiday.

The Archaeological Work

□ The City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), in cooperation with Tribal representatives, will wrap up all currently authorized work early next week. The next step will be a consultation meeting between State, Tribal and City officials to determine how to handle the additional human remains that were discovered within several of the test pits. The State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has scheduled this meeting for mid-September.

□ Archaeological monitoring will continue whenever Strider or one of their contractors performs any excavation work.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

FIRST FRIDAY Friday, September 2 – 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
First Friday Art Walk and Late Night Shopping
Fall Fashion Preview Walks at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914 7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Construction Alert No. 16
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

August 22, 2011

Latest News about Concrete

At this afternoon’s weekly construction meeting, Strider confirmed that S&S Concrete is scheduled to arrive in town tomorrow (Tuesday) morning. While there could be some spot sidewalk work between Dock and Ireland Streets on Tuesday and Wednesday, most of the effort initially will be focused on curb and gutter work east of Ilwaco Street. The reasons behind this decision are threefold – first, the irrigation subcontractor is still completing connections and testing between Dock and Ireland; second, there is some concrete form work needed at the base of the railing wall and in the gap between All Things Irish and Popsie’s (the big hole); and, third, a gap must be created for an ADA curb ramp on the north side of the street. Also, and this may or may not be a factor, curbs can be poured in light rain whereas sidewalks need mostly dry days. The forecast calls for the sun to return tomorrow afternoon but it is fair to say that this summer has been nothing if not unpredictable!

Bottom line, the intensive sidewalk work between Dock and Ireland is scheduled to begin on Thursday of this week with completion expected by next Thursday, September 1. To the best of our abilities, we will let business owners know at least a day ahead when the crews are expected to be pouring concrete at their front doors. We will work with individual businesses to minimize access issues.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Briefing No. 26
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

August 19, 2011

Good morning,

Project watchers this week will have witnessed Strider crews in action both east and west of the archaeological discovery block. Between Dock and Ireland, the last remaining vaults and irrigation lines are now in place as this stretch is being readied for new sidewalks beginning next week. Between Ilwaco and Midway, work is underway to install the last of the underground pipes and services in preparation for curbs and gutters, also beginning next week.

The concrete subcontractor, S&S Concrete, is scheduled to arrive in town next early next week. Over the next two weeks, they will be working both east and west of the archaeological discovery block, balancing sidewalk work between Dock and Ireland with curb and gutter work east of Ilwaco. The reason that some of their time must be directed to curb and gutter work between Ilwaco and Midway is simply to keep Strider’s crew busy while the sidewalk work is ongoing. In other words, if S&S was to focus solely on the Dock to Ireland sidewalks next week, a portion of Strider’s crew would be idle which would extend the substantial completion date and likely subject the City to additional costs for lost efficiency. The contractor’s schedule calls for completion of the Dock to Ireland sidewalks and the Ilwaco to Midway curb and gutter by September 1, or just in time for the next First Friday event.

Construction Work

□ Within Phase 1, work may continue within the planting areas depending on the availability of the landscaping subcontractor. City staff have stressed the importance of completing the irrigation and adding topsoil to these areas so that the pedestrian barrier fencing can finally be removed. In addition, two sidewalk panels, one in front of the Casual House and one in front of the Pioneer Project Office, will be removed and re-poured due to poor quality workmanship during the grinding process.

□ This past week, work within Phase 2 concentrated on preparing for the arrival of the concrete contractors next week. Meter boxes and vaults were raised to match the new sidewalk grade, irrigation was completed to the planting areas and planter pot locations and electrical and communications service connections were completed to individual buildings. East of Ilwaco, the street and parking areas were graded in preparation for the curb and gutter work and irrigation piping was installed.

□ Looking ahead to the two weeks between August 22 and September 2, the focus as noted above will be on sidewalks between Dock and Ireland Streets and installation of curb and gutter east of Ilwaco Street. Once the curb and gutter work is in place, Strider will begin preparing the sidewalk areas between Ilwaco and Midway. Please note that no construction work will be scheduled for the Ilwaco to Ireland block until the archaeological work is complete, with possible exception of some sidewalk area preparation on the north side.

The Archaeological Work

□ The City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), in cooperation with Tribal representatives, should complete as much work as they are currently authorized to complete by the end of next week. As noted earlier, additional human remains were exposed within several of the test pits. In accordance with the City’s archaeological permit, the presence of human remains in the test pits triggers a requirement for additional consultation with State and Tribal representatives to determine the next steps. The State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has called for a meeting early in September to have this discussion.

□ NWAA was scheduled to proceed next week with archaeological testing on the north side of Pioneer Way between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets. However, with the consultation meeting delayed until early September, we were faced with the prospect of full closure of this block for as long as three weeks. For that reason, we have asked NWAA to delay testing on the north side until after the consultation meeting.

□ An archaeological monitor is in place whenever Strider or one of their contractors performs any excavation work. In addition, city and contracting staff have also been trained by NWAA and Tribal officials in the basics of archaeological law and reporting requirements.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

FIRST FRIDAY Friday, September 2 – 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
First Friday Art Walk and Late Night Shopping
Fall Fashion Preview Walks at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360-914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360-279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360-614-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Please accept our apologies for the late arrival of the weekly briefing. The City was experiencing some technical problems on Friday that prevented us from using our email service.

Briefing No. 25
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

August 12, 2011

Good afternoon,

With the archaeological work increasingly concentrated within the main discovery site between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets, a larger Strider crew was able to make some headway this week within Phase 1 and between Dock and Ireland Streets in Phase 2. Strider and City staff are still working together closely to assemble a project completion schedule. As soon as we have reliable information to report, it will be coming your way.

Also, you may be aware that there have been conflicting reports in the press and elsewhere concerning the ongoing archaeological investigation. As noted below, City staff are aware that additional human remains have been detected within four of the test pits and that the State’s Physical Anthropologist is investigating these remains. We will not discuss details about the character of these remains until we receive confirmation from the State, and as of today we have no further information on these additional discoveries. We encourage anyone with questions about the archaeological work to drop us a note or swing by the Project Office.

Construction Work

□ Strider and their subcontractors completed work on two tasks within Phase 1 – installation of the railing on the south side retaining wall just east of City Beach Street and asphalt patching in driveways and along curb lines. The schedule calls for the irrigation and landscaping contractors to arrive next week to complete irrigation testing and begin planting area preparation.

□ The remainder of the week was dedicated to preparing the sidewalk areas between Dock and City Beach Streets. This work including setting the remaining three Frontier Communications vaults, wiring and pouring the bases for the new street lights and leveling, smoothing and compacting the surface. In addition, thresholds in front of three shops were removed to allow grades to be matched with the new sidewalk. Strider’s 3-week schedule still has the sidewalk subcontractor arriving in town during the week of August 22.

□ Looking ahead to the week of August 22, in addition to sidewalks between Dock and Ireland, we should see progress on irrigation piping and testing, preparation for curb and gutter between Ilwaco and Midway and placement of additional vaults on the Midway Boulevard end of the project. Please note that no construction work will be scheduled for the Ilwaco to Ireland block until the archaeological work is complete.

The Archaeological Work

□ The City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), in cooperation with Tribal representatives, continues to work within the main discovery area. Additional human remains were recovered from within the spoils piles and were exposed within four of the test pits. In accordance with the City archaeological permit, the presence of human remains in the four test pits will trigger additional consultation with State and Tribal representatives to determine the next steps.

□ An archaeological monitor is in place whenever Strider or one of their contractors performs any excavation work. In addition, city and contracting staff have also been trained by NWAA and Tribal officials in the basics of archaeological law and reporting requirements.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

PIGS ON PIONEER Sunday, August 14 – 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest – Judging at 2:00 pm
In conjunction with the Fidalgo Avenue Pig Roast

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Briefing No. 24
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

August 4, 2011

Good afternoon,

As expected, the archaeological work began in earnest this week, both on the test probes outside of the Ilwaco-to-Ireland block and on the recovery work within the two spoils piles inside the enclosure. The work is progressing well and the expectation is that this work will be substantially complete in three to four weeks. As of this afternoon, no additional human remains have been detected outside the main discovery area. Many have asked us why the main discovery area is not open to view. Screening of work related to recovery of human remains and archaeological resources is common practice that reinforces the solemnity of the recovery process and allows Tribal members to handle ancestral remains in private. The City is respecting this practice.

See below for news on the renewed construction effort. Several of you have mentioned that it is encouraging to see the familiar Strider trucks back on Pioneer – we couldn’t agree more.

The Archaeological Work

□ The City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), is leading the testing and recovery work in association with interested Tribes. Depending on the extent of additional discoveries, the Pioneer Way archaeological work should be completed in less than a month.

□ For the project area west of Ireland Street and east of Ilwaco Street, the archaeologists are using shovel probes in all locations where additional underground work is required (tree wells, lightpoles, utility service connection trenches, irrigation service trenches and curbs). If no cultural resources are detected, work may proceed as designed. Should additional cultural materials or remains be found, there will be further consultation with the State and Tribes on how best to proceed. As of Thursday, this work has been completed to Dock Street and work is underway between Dock and Ireland.

□ For the primary discovery area between Ilwaco and Ireland Streets, the intensive testing protocol (test pits at one meter intervals) is on hold while NWAA and the Tribes conduct recovery work by screening the piles and removing human remains for re-burial. As soon as the recovery work is complete, the testing protocol will be implemented.

□ The State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation issued the second Excavation Permit today covering the spoils piles that were taken from Pioneer Way to a gravel pit north of the City.

Construction Work

□ Strider Construction resumed work in two places this week – forming a cap for the retaining wall across from Whidbey Coffee and installing railing on the south side retaining wall just east of City Beach Street.

□ The contractor will bring in a crew on Monday to complete preparation for filling the asphalt “gaps” in Phase 1. These gaps are mainly in evidence around the curbs and in driveways between City Beach Street and China Harbor Restaurant and the new paving will provide a smooth transition from the street to adjoining properties. Tentatively, the paving subcontractor, Lakeside Industries, will be in town next week to do the work. Completion of the Phase 1 irrigation in preparation for topsoil is also planned for next week.

□ Once the archaeologists have completed testing between Dock and Ireland Streets, Strider will complete preparation of the sidewalk areas, including installing and leveling the remaining vaults and cutting, smoothing and compacting the gravel base. Several thresholds will also be removed to insure a safe transition to businesses from the new sidewalks. Based on the information we have today, the sidewalk crew should be here during the week of August 22. We want to assure everyone that all possible avenues are being explored to complete this two-block section of sidewalks just as quickly as possible. This being prime construction season in the northwest, we have been especially impressed by the efforts being made by Strider and their subcontractors to find ways to return to Oak Harbor to complete the project.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

FIRST FRIDAY Coming up again tomorrow, Friday, August 5 – 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Art walk and late night shopping

PIGS ON PIONEER Sunday, August 14 – 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest – Judging at 2:00 pm
In conjunction with the Fidalgo Avenue Pig Roast

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914 7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Briefing No. 23
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

July 29, 2011

Good morning,

It has been a few weeks since we have been able to lead with positive news! At 5:27 pm yesterday afternoon, six weeks to the day after the exposure of human remains, the City received its Archaeological Excavation Permit for the Pioneer Way site. The nature of the work to be performed under the permit includes “testing, boundary delineation, recovery of four partially in-situ burials, and screening of piles for human remains, grave goods and artifacts.” Archaeological work should begin early next week – see below for some details on this effort.

Having the permit in hand is obviously very good news for the project and the City has asked Strider Construction to prepare a new construction schedule and begin the process of re-mobilizing crews, equipment and subcontractors. While we are all anxious to have Strider back and working as quickly as possible, it will not happen overnight. People may see some activity start next week – such as installation of railings on the retaining walls – but it will likely take the better part of two weeks for major street and sidewalk work to begin. We will know more next week once Strider delivers a revised schedule and the initial archaeological probes have been completed.

The Archaeological Work

□ The City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), will lead the testing and recovery work in association with interested Tribes. Depending on the extent of additional discoveries, the Pioneer Way archaeological work should be completed in less than a month.

□ For the project area west of Ireland Street and east of Ilwaco Street, the archaeologists will take several days to perform test probes using shovels in all locations where additional underground work is required (tree wells, lightpoles, utility service connection trenches, irrigation service trenches and curbs). If no cultural resources are detected, construction work may proceed as designed. Should additional cultural materials or remains be found, there will be further consultation with the State and Tribes on how best to proceed.

□ For the primary discovery area between Ilwaco and Ireland Streets, there will be an intensive testing protocol (test pits at one meter intervals) in those locations where additional excavation needs to occur in order to build the street. As above, negative findings will allow work to move forward with an archaeological monitor, positive findings will require additional consultation. Also in this area, NWAA, in cooperation with the Tribes, will conduct recovery work by screening the piles and removing human remains for re-burial.

□ Next week, the State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation expects to issue the second Excavation Permit covering the spoils piles that were taken from Pioneer Way to a gravel pit north of the City.

Scheduled Gatherings

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

FIRST FRIDAY Coming up again on Friday, August 5 – 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Art walk and late night shopping

PIGS ON PIONEER Sunday, August 14 – 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest – Judging at 2:00 pm
In conjunction with the Fidalgo Avenue Pig Roast

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914 7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information:

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Construction Alert No. 15
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

July 27, 2011

Meeting Between State, Tribal, City Officials Yields Positive Results

Yesterday, the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), the agency with responsibility to review, issue and manage archaeological permits in Washington, convened a meeting with representatives of DAHP, consulting Tribes and the City. After more than four hours of productive discussion, all parties emerged with agreement on a clear blueprint for moving forward with the City’s two archaeological permits. The Assistant State Archaeologist drafted the Pioneer Way permit this morning and has distributed it for comments to consulting Tribes. In a conversation this morning, we learned that DAHP expects to issue the first permit, covering Pioneer Way, either tomorrow or early next week. The permit covering the pit site should follow shortly thereafter.

While much of the discussion was quite detailed, there were two overarching themes that emerged. First, there was a strong interest amongst all parties to move ahead as swiftly as possible with recovery and re-burial of the disturbed human remains. Second, everyone around the table concurred that the current condition of the Pioneer Way project site presents some real concerns with respect to pedestrian and vehicular safety. The archaeological work authorized by the permits will be responsive to these two themes. Except for the immediate discovery area (approximately between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets), sampling for additional archaeological resources will occur only in those locations where further ground disturbance is necessary (such as tree locations, small utility boxes, and power and water connections to streetlights).

Obviously, this is potentially very good news for the project schedule. If the sampling work outside of the primary discovery area results in no new discoveries, then construction can resume over most of the project very soon. City staff will be meeting tomorrow with Strider Construction to put together a plan for bringing crews, equipment and subcontractors back into town once we get a green light.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360-914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell Rhonda Severns
City Engineer
360-279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360-914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Construction Alert No. 14
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

July 21, 2011

City, Tribes, State Scheduled to Meet Next Week

The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), the agency with responsibility to review, issue and manage archaeological permits in Washington, will convene a meeting next week with representatives of DAHP, consulting Tribes and the City. Originally scheduled for late this week, the meeting was moved to accommodate scheduling conflicts. The main topic of the discussion will be Oak Harbor’s two Emergency Archaeological Excavation Permit applications – one for the Pioneer Way project area and one for the gravel pit north of town where the excavated materials were taken. The permits cover boundary delineation of the archaeological site, recovery of disturbed ancestral remains and a plan for the ultimate disposition of those remains.

We can also provide an update on our request to the State to allow some limited placement of gravel to make the sidewalks and curb transitions safer for pedestrians. There are continuing concerns that this work could cause additional ground disturbances prior to the subsurface materials sampling effort that will determine the extent of the archaeological site. That said, there is recognition that site safety is also essential so the City has been asked to provide additional details on the methods and equipment to be used in performing this work. We expect to have this information back to the State on Monday.

Key City Contact People

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Briefing No. 22
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

July 15, 2011

Good afternoon,

While the news from the construction front is unfortunately very slim indeed this week (notwithstanding site maintenance and our ongoing efforts to work with the State to make the site safer and more pedestrian-friendly), there have been a few tentative steps in a positive direction with respect to our archaeological permits. The following describes the highlights:

□ The tribal comment period for the City’s Emergency Excavation Permit for Pioneer Way closed on Tuesday, July 12, 2011. Four tribes (Swinomish, Tulalip, Suquamish and Samish) supplied written comments and these submittals are now under review by the permitting agency, the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). Once approved, this permit will allow the City’s consulting archaeologist to move forward with sampling to determine the size of the site and with sifting of the spoils piles inside the securing fencing between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets.

□ On Thursday of this week, the DAHP scheduled a meeting for next Thursday, July 21, 2001, between representatives of their office, interested tribal representatives and City officials. This meeting will focus on issues raised during the tribal comment period, specifically if or how these comments might be incorporated into our permit. The DAHP has not been able to provide us with a timeframe for when our permit might be issued.

□ Also on Tuesday, the City submitted the second Emergency Excavation Permit covering the spoils piles that were taken from Pioneer Way to a gravel pit north of the City. This application was distributed by DAHP to the tribal communities on Wednesday with a suggested comment deadline of today, July 15. The option was left open for any tribe to request an extension to the comment period.

□ Based on the permit review process, the City extended the temporary suspension of Strider’s contract for another week, through July 25, 2011. We remain in almost daily contact with the contractor.

Finally, the City Council on Tuesday re-authorized monies that can be used for construction-related support for the downtown business community. City staff are working closely with the Downtown Merchant’s Association to find the highest value use of these dollars in ways that also pass muster with the State Auditor’s Office. Many thanks to one and all who have been a part of refining and extending this effort.

Scheduled Gatherings (on as usual!)

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360-914-7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360-279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360-914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Art Project Blog - http://cohpioneerwayart.blogspot.com/

Briefing No. 21
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

July 7, 2011

Good afternoon,

As reported in last week’s briefing, Strider Construction’s work on the Pioneer Way project has been suspended at least until July 18, 2011, with further work subject to authorization from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP). People may still catch an occasional glimpse of a Strider crew member, either helping to maintain the project site or doing work that does not involve excavation, filling or adding impervious cover. Most of the equipment has also been temporarily removed pending approval to move forward. We continue to be appreciative of Strider’s cooperative and reasonable attitude since the human remains discovery on June 16, 2011.

Unfortunately, we are no closer to being able to answer the “when will construction resume” question. The Emergency Archaeological Excavation Permit application was submitted on June 27 and distributed by DAHP to interested tribes on June 28 with a one-week comment period. This comment period has since been extended to next Tuesday, July 12. The Excavation Permit is a prerequisite for any work involving site testing (to determine the extent of the archaeological resources) or excavation (dealing directly with the discovery area between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets). City officials continue to work closely with State and Tribal authorities on all matters related to the discovery. Certainly, if we hear anything definitive from DAHP regarding our permit, we will get the word out as quickly as possible.

Dust Control

Since it appears that warmer, drier days are upon us and with Strider’s construction efforts mostly suspended, the City will be assuming interim dust control responsibilities east of Dock Street. In the short term, the Public Works crew will be watering the street but we are investigating the application of a lignin-based product that is used commonly throughout this area for water-soluble, environmentally sustainable dust suppression. It is applied in liquid form, takes about 3-4 hours to dry and should last as much as two weeks before re-application. We will let you know via a Construction Alert if and when this option is exercised.

Scheduled Gatherings (on as usual!)

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear the latest about the project

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
lcort@oakharbor.org
360-914-7107

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360-914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Pioneer Way Art Project Blog - http://cohpioneerwayart.blogspot.com/

Briefing No. 20
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

July 1, 2011

Good afternoon,

As noted in a recent Construction Alert, the State’s June 23, 2011 order to cease work on any activity involving excavation, filling or placement of impervious surfaces left very little work for Strider to do. The State did make an exception to allow utility trenching work on Dock Street between Pioneer Way and Bayshore Drive subject to monitoring by an archaeologist. This work was completed on Thursday. In addition, the City requested permission to bring in small amounts of gravel fill to make pedestrian travel safer. The State agreed to allow this activity so long as the amount of fill was kept to what was characterized as “wheel barrow-sized amounts.” No other work is authorized at the moment with the exception of dust abatement which will continue twice each day during the holiday weekend and beyond.

Looking ahead, we are waiting on word from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation regarding the City’s application for an Emergency Excavation Permit. While we have no specific information about when work can proceed, it is reasonable to expect that Strider will not be able to re-start major construction until at least July 18, 2011. Consequently, we have asked the contractor to suspend work until that date to avoid at least some of the costs associated with having crews and equipment on standby. Once we get the green light to continue construction, Strider will re-mobilize as quickly as possible to get the project moving again.

We wish everyone a festive Fourth of July holiday!

Scheduled Gatherings (on as usual!)

AM TUESDAY COFFEES Every Tuesday morning – 9:00 to 10:00 am
Pioneer Way Information and Construction Office
Have a cup and pastry, hear what’s on the schedule for that week

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort
Project Manager
360 914 7107
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360-279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360-914-7256
rhseverns@oakharbor.org

Other Places for Information

Pioneer Way Web Page - http://www.oakharbor.org/page.cfm?pageId=379

Pioneer Way Project Blog - http://pioneerway.blogspot.com/

Pioneer Way Art Project Blog - http://cohpioneerwayart.blogspot.com/