Briefing No. 29
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 9, 2011

Good afternoon,

With the first week of September weather just about ideal for construction and a promising forecast for dry days next week, Strider Construction has every intention of taking advantage of these conditions. By the end of next week, merchants, customers and other visitors to Pioneer Way should be able to walk on new sidewalks in all blocks except between Ireland and Ilwaco where the archaeology work is ongoing. As noted last week and as part of their accelerated completion schedule, the contractor will be working tomorrow (Saturday) from about 7 to 3 to make sure that they are ready for several days of concrete pouring next week, including filling the gravel sidewalk gaps in Phase 1. Tentatively, Strider is also planning to work next Saturday, September 17.

The contractor’s schedule calls for the paving subcontractor to be here on September 19 and 20. Not only are they expected to pave Phase 2 outside the archaeology area, but we will see repair and patching of the City Beach Street intersection and the Dock Street trench between Pioneer and Bayshore. Traffic detours and/or delays will be in place during most of these two days as the paving work is underway.

Construction Work

□ Phase 1 - The landscaping subcontractor completed topsoil application within the planter islands near City Beach Street and at the foot of Ely Street. Next up will be the large planter beds near Dock Street and the gradual placement of street furniture between City Beach and Dock.

□ Phase 1 – As noted above, Strider will be working tomorrow (Saturday) to remove the gravel within the temporary sidewalk patch areas in preparation for concrete early next week. In conjunction with this work, there may be brief traffic and parking interruptions as the crew moves from one location to the next.

□ Phase 2 – Sidewalks were completed between Dock and Hathaway early in the week and work is underway to cut the decorative grid pattern within this section. East of the archaeological enclosure, sidewalks will be about 70% complete by the end of today. Except for the archaeological block, all sidewalks should be in place by the middle of next week.

□ Phase 2 – Work began today to prepare the street base between Dock and Ireland in anticipation of paving on September 19 and 20. This effort will continue into next week both east and west of the archaeological enclosure area.

□ Phase 2 – Irrigation and electrical work kept pace with the sidewalk installation, including on the north side of the archaeological enclosure.

The Archaeological Work

□ City officials and the City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), are anxiously awaiting a September 15 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. This meeting should help determine how much archaeological work is still required between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets.

□ Archaeological monitoring is continuing whenever Strider or one of their subcontractors 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

Key City Contact People

These are your go-to City staff for issues connected to the construction project:

Larry Cort Joe Stowell Rhonda Severns
Project Manager Project Engineer City Utilities
360 914-7107 360 279-4520 360 914-7256
lcort@oakharbor.org

Joe Stowell
Project Engineer
360 279-4520
jstowell@oakharbor.org

Rhonda Severns
City Utilities
360 614-7256
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/