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