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/