Briefing No. 31
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 23, 2011

Good afternoon,

The base layer of paving was completed last Monday night and into Tuesday morning over all remaining gravel surfaces except those in the immediate vicinity of the archaeological work. The final finishing layer from City Beach Street to Midway Boulevard is scheduled during daylight hours next week for Wednesday and Thursday, September 28 and 29, weather permitting. As noted in yesterday’s Construction Alert, these two days are likely to be amongst the most disruptive to vehicle traffic since the project began, not only due to the paving but also to the need to apply the striping and other pavement markings while the asphalt is still warm. Flaggers will be in place and drivers should expect detours.

Also, please be aware that the contractor intends to work Saturdays at least until the substantial completion deadline of October 6. Tomorrow’s work will concentrate on installing the street furniture, landscaping and irrigation.

Construction Work

□ The landscaping subcontractor completed topsoil application within several more planter islands and is set to begin putting in the new plants.

□ The Filterra stormwater vaults were activated on Wednesday, complete with the bamboo plants that will assist with removing impurities from street runoff. Obviously, drainage cannot get to the vaults until the final asphalt is in place next week.

□ Puget Sound Energy and Frontier Communications are both working on the street pulling wire through the new underground power and communications network. Signal “loops,” the in-street wires that trigger traffic light control at the Midway and City Beach intersections, were installed last week.

□ Strider Construction continued to work on installing the “amenities,” including handrails, landscaping, streetlights, planters, benches, bike racks, tree grates, permanent signs and streetside restoration.

□ Final paving over the full length of the project should occur next Wednesday and Thursday, depending on weather. This work will include patching of private parking lots disturbed during construction.

The Archaeological Work

□ City officials and the City’s consulting archaeological firm, Northwest Archaeological Associates (NWAA), met with State and Tribal officials on September 15 to determine how to handle the additional human remains that were discovered within several of the test pits. The City expects to receive the revised excavation permit next week and the archaeologists will return to begin removing the top 10” or so to allow the street to be completed.

□ 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

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 15 Pioneer Way Celebrates!
Lots of Merchant-Sponsored Activities on the new street and sidewalks
Fun Run, Food, Music, Chalk Art (weather permitting), Sidewalk Sale and Much More
Ribbon Cutting at Dock and Pioneer

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/