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