Briefing No. 27
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

August 26, 2011

Good afternoon,

Most everyone is probably aware that the downtown shoreline of Oak Harbor once came up to and often underneath the commercial buildings on the south side of Pioneer Way. Obviously, with the construction of Bayshore Drive (formerly Flintstone Freeway) and the subsequent filling of the area between Bayshore and Pioneer, these buildings lost their immediate connection to the water. In preparing for the new south side sidewalks , this history was obvious to see as gaps were exposed between the sidewalk location and the original slope under two buildings that at one time would have led directly to salt water. To remedy this situation, Strider crews had to custom build forms so that the fresh concrete would not just pour directly into the basements of these buildings. Problem solved and on to this week’s update.

Construction Work

□ Within Phase 1, work will continue to complete the irrigation installation and testing. Once this work has been approved, the landscaping subcontractor will bring in topsoil and remove the pedestrian barricades around the planting areas. In addition, removal of the two flawed sidewalk panels in front of the Casual House and the Pioneer Project Office, originally scheduled for last week, is now on the revised schedule for early in the week of September 6.

□ Efforts within Phase 2 were all about concrete. Between Dock and Ireland Streets, Strider crews concentrated on final preparations for the arrival of new sidewalks next week. Curb gaps were closed and several ADA ramps were poured. S&S Concrete will be back in town on Monday and, beginning at The Rusty Chandelier at Dock and Pioneer, will pour the north side sidewalks as far as Ireland and then move to the south side working back to Dock Street. Please be aware that the grid pattern must be cut into the new sidewalks once dry, a process that can be quite noisy. East of Ilwaco, curb and gutter work was mostly completed which will allow Strider to begin preparing for sidewalks in this area.

□ Looking ahead to the week of September 6, detail work will continue within Phase 1, especially within the planting areas and on the sidewalks. Most of the work in Phase 2 will be concentrated east of Ilwaco where the current schedule calls for sidewalks to begin pouring during the week of September 6. Please note that Strider plans to work Saturday, September 10 to make up the day lost to the Labor Day holiday.

The Archaeological Work

□ The City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), in cooperation with Tribal representatives, will wrap up all currently authorized work early next week. The next step will be a consultation meeting between State, Tribal and City officials to determine how to handle the additional human remains that were discovered within several of the test pits. The State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has scheduled this meeting for mid-September.

□ Archaeological monitoring will continue whenever Strider or one of their contractors performs any excavation work.

Scheduled Gatherings/Events

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 Friday, September 2 – 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm
First Friday Art Walk and Late Night Shopping
Fall Fashion Preview Walks at 5:30 pm and 6:30 pm

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/