Briefing No. 6 - March 18, 2011

First and foremost, we are pleased to report that Strider Construction’s crews made excellent headway this week (despite the trenches being a wee bit damp on Wednesday morning!) by completing the sewer line replacement a little ahead of schedule. One-way traffic along the Phase 1 stretch of the project resumes today. Much more trenching lies ahead – water service connections, drainage lines, the replacement water line between Ely and City Beach Streets and a joint utility trench for power and communications – before the crews turn their attention to the above-ground improvements. We will do our best to keep everyone informed and respond to problems as they arise.

Scheduled Gatherings

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

Revised Parking Map Available

As promised, City staff have revised the Parking Map distributed with last Friday’s Briefing to include a list of businesses by numbered location on the map. Again, we are attaching the revised map to this email but we will also maintain a stack of copies for your use at the downtown Construction Office. We thank those who have offered suggestions for improving the map!

Recent News

● Strider crews demolished the last remaining section of old sidewalk on the north side of Pioneer between City Beach and Ely Streets.

● Replacing the sewer line between Dock and Ely Streets was messy but is now completed, including replacement of the side sewers from the new main to individual businesses. Special recognition and thanks for the extra tolerance shown by several businesses whose sewer connections coincided with their front door!

● As described in Construction Alert No. 1, the sewer line replacement work resulted in a short-term detour between Dock and Ely Streets. With the completion of this part of job, this block re-opened for one-way traffic on Friday.

● Work started on Thursday afternoon to install new drainage structures and pipe in the block between Ely and City Beach Streets.

● Additional signs were added in several locations to better highlight parking. In addition, City staff created 10 “Pedestrian Access” signs to better direct customers to the front doors of businesses. These signs are portable and will be shifted around as the project needs dictate.

Looking Ahead

● Installation of new drainage infrastructure between Ely and City Beach Streets will continue and work may begin next week on installing drainage facilities between Dock and Ely Streets.

● The major push for next week will be the replacement of individual water services between Dock and Ely Streets. This effort will necessarily involve trenching across Pioneer Way but one-way traffic will continue to flow along the street. Drivers may experience brief delays when metal plates are placed to cover trenches – please drive carefully and safely.

● Unfortunately, temporary water service interruptions will occur with the service line replacement. Business owners between Dock and Ely have been contacted about the service interruptions and City staff have supplied the contractor with a list of businesses with sensitive water use needs (for example, salons and eating establishments). Every effort will be made to schedule these interruptions to avoid shutdowns during critical periods.

● Looking ahead to the weeks of March 28 and April 4, the vast majority of the work between Dock and City Beach Streets will be underground - water service connections, drainage lines, the replacement water line between Ely and City Beach Streets and a joint utility trench for power and communications.

● Finally, we have been extraordinarily grateful for the many splendid ideas, candid observations and can-do attitudes brought to this project by business owners, customers and our growing group of citizen observers. From all of us, thank you!

NOTE: Due to a long-planned commitment, Project Manager Larry Cort will be away from the office beginning Tuesday, March 22, and returning on Thursday, April 7. Please direct all questions and concerns during this period to Joe Stowell, Project Engineer.