Construction Alert No. 13
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 29, 2011
Archaeological Permit Submitted and Under Review by State
From our discussions late last week with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP), we learned that the City would be required to apply for and receive two Archaeological Excavation Permits – one for the Pioneer Way project area and one for the gravel pit where the excavated materials were taken. The permits would apply to recovery of human remains, site boundary delineation and data recovery. On Monday of this week, the City submitted the first of these permit applications, covering the Pioneer Way project area. Yesterday (Tuesday) afternoon, DAHP distributed the application with their comments to six “interested, affected tribes.” Once the tribes have responded, we should have a clearer idea of where, when and how the excavation work will proceed.
Related to the State’s order to stop all earth filling work, several downtown merchants have pointed out to us how difficult it is for pedestrians to step over the new curbs and gutters, especially with the gaps that were left when this portion of the project was shut down abruptly last Thursday. We have requested and received permission from the State to make these locations safer by placing small amounts of gravel fill along the curb line, at the ramps and leading up to the front doors of businesses. General clean-up of the site will also take place. This work will occur tomorrow so that it can be in place for the holiday weekend.
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
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Construction Alert No. 12
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 23, 2011
Project Suspended Pending Archaeological Permit
The City learned this afternoon in a letter from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation that all work requiring “excavation, filling, or placement of impervious surfaces along SE Pioneer Way must cease until an archaeological testing plan and permit application have been received, and an archaeological excavation permit issued by our agency.” The State made one exception to allow the peripheral utility trenching to continue on Dock Street between Pioneer Way and Bayshore Drive. As a consequence of this letter, City staff informed Strider to shut down all operations meeting the suspension criteria established by the State and to make every effort to leave the site safe for vehicles and pedestrians.
We know that this news will be very disappointing to everyone who is anxious to see this project completed as quickly as possible. Needless to say, all City staff and officials will be working as hard as we can to cooperate with State and Tribal authorities to both honor the discovered remains and get the project moving again. As soon as we have any new information, it will be coming your way through the usual channels.
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
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 23, 2011
Project Suspended Pending Archaeological Permit
The City learned this afternoon in a letter from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation that all work requiring “excavation, filling, or placement of impervious surfaces along SE Pioneer Way must cease until an archaeological testing plan and permit application have been received, and an archaeological excavation permit issued by our agency.” The State made one exception to allow the peripheral utility trenching to continue on Dock Street between Pioneer Way and Bayshore Drive. As a consequence of this letter, City staff informed Strider to shut down all operations meeting the suspension criteria established by the State and to make every effort to leave the site safe for vehicles and pedestrians.
We know that this news will be very disappointing to everyone who is anxious to see this project completed as quickly as possible. Needless to say, all City staff and officials will be working as hard as we can to cooperate with State and Tribal authorities to both honor the discovered remains and get the project moving again. As soon as we have any new information, it will be coming your way through the usual channels.
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
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
Construction Alert No. 11
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 22, 2011
New Bone Fragments Unearthed Adjacent to First Discovery
Late yesterday (Tuesday), the City’s Pioneer Way contractor uncovered several additional bone fragments while excavating just east of the initial discovery site. The City had been given permission by the Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) to continue excavation so long as the as the work was monitored by a professional archaeologist. After nearly two uneventful days, the archaeologist spotted several additional fragments, stopped further excavation work and informed City staff of the discovery. As with the initial inadvertent find, staff reported the discovery to the police and DAHP and, based on advice from the archaeologist, helped the Strider crew cover the new site with cloth and install barrier fencing. We are anticipating that these remains will be evaluated in combination with those uncovered during the original discovery.
With the archaeological discovery area effectively contained within the block between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets, we can expect that Strider’s crews will be focusing their work on the balance of Phase 2, along with ongoing restoration work in Phase 1. We are expecting that a crew from S & S Concrete Construction will be in town today to begin preparing the forms for curb and gutter between Dock and Hathaway Streets (the straight sections). In addition, the last major utility work will begin today on Dock Street between Pioneer and Bayshore to connect the new underground power and communications to the larger system. Drivers should expect detours around this section of Dock Street while this work is completed.
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
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 22, 2011
New Bone Fragments Unearthed Adjacent to First Discovery
Late yesterday (Tuesday), the City’s Pioneer Way contractor uncovered several additional bone fragments while excavating just east of the initial discovery site. The City had been given permission by the Washington State Office of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) to continue excavation so long as the as the work was monitored by a professional archaeologist. After nearly two uneventful days, the archaeologist spotted several additional fragments, stopped further excavation work and informed City staff of the discovery. As with the initial inadvertent find, staff reported the discovery to the police and DAHP and, based on advice from the archaeologist, helped the Strider crew cover the new site with cloth and install barrier fencing. We are anticipating that these remains will be evaluated in combination with those uncovered during the original discovery.
With the archaeological discovery area effectively contained within the block between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets, we can expect that Strider’s crews will be focusing their work on the balance of Phase 2, along with ongoing restoration work in Phase 1. We are expecting that a crew from S & S Concrete Construction will be in town today to begin preparing the forms for curb and gutter between Dock and Hathaway Streets (the straight sections). In addition, the last major utility work will begin today on Dock Street between Pioneer and Bayshore to connect the new underground power and communications to the larger system. Drivers should expect detours around this section of Dock Street while this work is completed.
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
Monday, June 20, 2011
Construction Alert No. 10
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 20, 2011
Latest News on the Archaeological Remains
Since the last project briefing on Friday afternoon, a team of two from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) has visited Oak Harbor and we know a little more about the steps ahead of us. On Saturday, DAHP staff performed an initial assessment of the discovery site and the piles of dirt that were removed last week. As widely reported in the media and based on the visible physical evidence, the remains are almost certainly of Native American origin which means that tribal governments must be notified. Based on our location, notification will go out today from DAHP to eleven tribes who in turn have five days to express interest in being a part of the process from here on out. In the meantime, the State is preparing an emergency excavation permit that will allow the City to begin the process of sifting through the excavated material. This work will be performed by a firm that specializes in cultural resource management.
From a construction standpoint, the good news is that the DAHP staff gave the go-ahead to substantially reduce the size of the protected area to right around the discovery site (approximately 50 x 30 feet). This decision allowed us to re-open Pioneer Way for one-way traffic just after noon on Saturday and will allow Strider to continue working to excavate the final sections of new roadway. All of the remaining excavation work will be monitored by an archaeologist, with any new finds handled according to State law. It is still too early to determine to what extent the discovery may affect the overall construction schedule. Certainly, the main discovery area will lag behind the rest of the project for at least a week or more but work on the vast majority of Phase 2 will continue as scheduled.
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
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 20, 2011
Latest News on the Archaeological Remains
Since the last project briefing on Friday afternoon, a team of two from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) has visited Oak Harbor and we know a little more about the steps ahead of us. On Saturday, DAHP staff performed an initial assessment of the discovery site and the piles of dirt that were removed last week. As widely reported in the media and based on the visible physical evidence, the remains are almost certainly of Native American origin which means that tribal governments must be notified. Based on our location, notification will go out today from DAHP to eleven tribes who in turn have five days to express interest in being a part of the process from here on out. In the meantime, the State is preparing an emergency excavation permit that will allow the City to begin the process of sifting through the excavated material. This work will be performed by a firm that specializes in cultural resource management.
From a construction standpoint, the good news is that the DAHP staff gave the go-ahead to substantially reduce the size of the protected area to right around the discovery site (approximately 50 x 30 feet). This decision allowed us to re-open Pioneer Way for one-way traffic just after noon on Saturday and will allow Strider to continue working to excavate the final sections of new roadway. All of the remaining excavation work will be monitored by an archaeologist, with any new finds handled according to State law. It is still too early to determine to what extent the discovery may affect the overall construction schedule. Certainly, the main discovery area will lag behind the rest of the project for at least a week or more but work on the vast majority of Phase 2 will continue as scheduled.
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
Friday, June 17, 2011
Briefing No. 19
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 17, 2011
Good afternoon,
The discovery of human remains on Thursday during the street excavation between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets has definitely dominated the latter part of this week. Many of you have asked how this might alter Strider Construction’s work schedule and the substantial completion date. The short answer for the moment is that it is too soon to tell. The determination about how the remains will be handled is in the hands of the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) who will in turn coordinate with the tribes if the remains are indeed Native American in origin. City staff will be meeting on-site with representatives of DAHP on Saturday morning and we may know more after that meeting. As we learn about the next steps, we will get that information out immediately.
In the meantime, work continues on the project with most of the work focused in Phase 2. With the uncertainty created by the human remains discovery, this week’s briefing provides fewer details on when we expect specific tasks to be started or completed. Please feel free to contact us at any time or plan on attending our regular Tuesday morning open house for the latest information.
Phase 1 Update
The completed sidewalks between Ely and City Beach Streets were sawcut to create the grid pattern selected for Pioneer Way. Puget Sound Energy/Potelco continued the process to pull electrical wires through the new underground conduit and all of Phase 1 is now charged. Work continued to prepare planting areas and street edges.
Phase 2 Update
Despite the forced closure of the block between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets, Strider was able to continue with street excavation at the Midway Boulevard end of the project and to begin preparing for curb, gutter and sidewalk on the Dock Street end. It will soon become evident that the sequence of street work for Phase 2 will differ slightly from Phase 1. Instead of completing each task for the full phase before moving on to the next task, the contractor plans to continue working assembly-line fashion down the street from Dock to Midway until each block has been completed through sidewalk installation. In other words, you may see street excavation happening in front of Whidbey Coffee while sidewalk bases are being prepared in front of The Rusty Chandelier. This approach is intended to make Phase 2 move along a little more swiftly, but it will also be more of a challenge for us to keep you briefed on what is on tap for the next few days. The following may help to understand the basic construction sequence:
1. Street Subgrade Excavation – This task essentially removes the top 18-24 inches or so of dirt from all areas to be covered with asphalt. Once excavated, a non-woven fabric is unrolled on the surface and approximately a foot of gravel is placed on top of the fabric.
2. Prep for Curb and Gutter – This step begins with a survey that allows Strider to grade the street base. With the survey in place, the contractor is able to set markers as a guide for the concrete crew to begin forming and pouring the curb and gutter.
3. Form and Pour Curb and Gutter (likely to begin on Wednesday) – The curb and gutter work is actually performed by a concrete subcontractor, S & S Construction. Typically, this is a fairly large crew that first sets the curb and gutter forms and then, with the arrival of concrete trucks, pours concrete into the forms. Finish work and tight corners are crafted by hand.
4. Set Utility Vaults – As can be seen by walking down most sidewalks, there are number of vaults or boxes that are placed flush with the sidewalk. Each of these must be placed and leveled prior to pouring the sidewalk. The finished sidewalk will have visible lids that will provide access to City utilities (water and sewer), electrical, telephone and cable lines.
5. Sidewalk Subgrade and Prep – This step establishes a base for the new sidewalks by leveling the existing dirt, importing gravel to provide a structurally sound base and then compacting everything. In some places, additional irrigation pipes are installed.
6. Spread and Roll Gravel Top Course – The “top course” is the 6 inches of crushed gravel that is placed on top of the gravel from Step 1. This gravel is specifically mixed to allow the subsurface material to lock into place when rolled prior to paving.
7. Form and Pour Sidewalks – As with the curb and gutter, the sidewalks are constructed by S & S Construction beginning with forming the areas to be poured. Once formed, the concrete trucks begin arriving and a crew is there to spread, smooth and brush the fresh concrete in manageable sections. Once dry, the concrete is sawcut to create the grid pattern selected for Pioneer Way.
Once the sidewalks are completed, the street will be ready for paving. The first layer of asphalt is about 3-4 inches deep and will be followed with a final layer of 2-3 inches across both Phase 1 and Phase 2.
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
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/
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 17, 2011
Good afternoon,
The discovery of human remains on Thursday during the street excavation between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets has definitely dominated the latter part of this week. Many of you have asked how this might alter Strider Construction’s work schedule and the substantial completion date. The short answer for the moment is that it is too soon to tell. The determination about how the remains will be handled is in the hands of the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation (DAHP) who will in turn coordinate with the tribes if the remains are indeed Native American in origin. City staff will be meeting on-site with representatives of DAHP on Saturday morning and we may know more after that meeting. As we learn about the next steps, we will get that information out immediately.
In the meantime, work continues on the project with most of the work focused in Phase 2. With the uncertainty created by the human remains discovery, this week’s briefing provides fewer details on when we expect specific tasks to be started or completed. Please feel free to contact us at any time or plan on attending our regular Tuesday morning open house for the latest information.
Phase 1 Update
The completed sidewalks between Ely and City Beach Streets were sawcut to create the grid pattern selected for Pioneer Way. Puget Sound Energy/Potelco continued the process to pull electrical wires through the new underground conduit and all of Phase 1 is now charged. Work continued to prepare planting areas and street edges.
Phase 2 Update
Despite the forced closure of the block between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets, Strider was able to continue with street excavation at the Midway Boulevard end of the project and to begin preparing for curb, gutter and sidewalk on the Dock Street end. It will soon become evident that the sequence of street work for Phase 2 will differ slightly from Phase 1. Instead of completing each task for the full phase before moving on to the next task, the contractor plans to continue working assembly-line fashion down the street from Dock to Midway until each block has been completed through sidewalk installation. In other words, you may see street excavation happening in front of Whidbey Coffee while sidewalk bases are being prepared in front of The Rusty Chandelier. This approach is intended to make Phase 2 move along a little more swiftly, but it will also be more of a challenge for us to keep you briefed on what is on tap for the next few days. The following may help to understand the basic construction sequence:
1. Street Subgrade Excavation – This task essentially removes the top 18-24 inches or so of dirt from all areas to be covered with asphalt. Once excavated, a non-woven fabric is unrolled on the surface and approximately a foot of gravel is placed on top of the fabric.
2. Prep for Curb and Gutter – This step begins with a survey that allows Strider to grade the street base. With the survey in place, the contractor is able to set markers as a guide for the concrete crew to begin forming and pouring the curb and gutter.
3. Form and Pour Curb and Gutter (likely to begin on Wednesday) – The curb and gutter work is actually performed by a concrete subcontractor, S & S Construction. Typically, this is a fairly large crew that first sets the curb and gutter forms and then, with the arrival of concrete trucks, pours concrete into the forms. Finish work and tight corners are crafted by hand.
4. Set Utility Vaults – As can be seen by walking down most sidewalks, there are number of vaults or boxes that are placed flush with the sidewalk. Each of these must be placed and leveled prior to pouring the sidewalk. The finished sidewalk will have visible lids that will provide access to City utilities (water and sewer), electrical, telephone and cable lines.
5. Sidewalk Subgrade and Prep – This step establishes a base for the new sidewalks by leveling the existing dirt, importing gravel to provide a structurally sound base and then compacting everything. In some places, additional irrigation pipes are installed.
6. Spread and Roll Gravel Top Course – The “top course” is the 6 inches of crushed gravel that is placed on top of the gravel from Step 1. This gravel is specifically mixed to allow the subsurface material to lock into place when rolled prior to paving.
7. Form and Pour Sidewalks – As with the curb and gutter, the sidewalks are constructed by S & S Construction beginning with forming the areas to be poured. Once formed, the concrete trucks begin arriving and a crew is there to spread, smooth and brush the fresh concrete in manageable sections. Once dry, the concrete is sawcut to create the grid pattern selected for Pioneer Way.
Once the sidewalks are completed, the street will be ready for paving. The first layer of asphalt is about 3-4 inches deep and will be followed with a final layer of 2-3 inches across both Phase 1 and Phase 2.
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
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/
Update on the Bones Uncovered on Pioneer Way
Construction Alert No. 9
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 16, 2011
Update on the Bones Uncovered between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets
The Island County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that the bones uncovered this morning during excavation of Pioneer Way are human remains, most likely of Native American origin. Due to their age, they are not considered to be of forensic interest as a possible crime scene so they will be treated solely as an archaeological resource. With this finding, the next steps will be determined by the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia. This State Archaeologist’s Office will also coordinate with tribal interests. We do not have an estimate as yet for how long this evaluation will take or how it will influence Strider’s continuing work on Pioneer Way. However, please be aware that we will be doing everything we can to responsibly expedite this review in order to keep the project moving along. We will continue to keep you alerted as information becomes available.
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
360 914-7526
rhseverns@oakharbor.org
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project
June 16, 2011
Update on the Bones Uncovered between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets
The Island County Coroner’s Office has confirmed that the bones uncovered this morning during excavation of Pioneer Way are human remains, most likely of Native American origin. Due to their age, they are not considered to be of forensic interest as a possible crime scene so they will be treated solely as an archaeological resource. With this finding, the next steps will be determined by the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation in Olympia. This State Archaeologist’s Office will also coordinate with tribal interests. We do not have an estimate as yet for how long this evaluation will take or how it will influence Strider’s continuing work on Pioneer Way. However, please be aware that we will be doing everything we can to responsibly expedite this review in order to keep the project moving along. We will continue to keep you alerted as information becomes available.
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
360 914-7526
rhseverns@oakharbor.org
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)