Construction Alert No. 19
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

September 22, 2011

Final Paving Next Week – Prepare for Detours

Weather permitting, the paving crew will return to town next Wednesday and Thursday (September 28 and 29) to lay down the final layer of asphalt from end to end with the obvious exception of the block between Ireland and Ilwaco Streets. In addition to placing the final 2 inches of asphalt on the driving lane and parking areas, the pavers will patch private parking lots that were disturbed during construction. While the asphalt is still warm, Strider will apply the permanent striping to the new surface, include parking areas, stop bars and pedestrian crossings. All in all, it adds up to a significant step forward toward the final design of Pioneer Way.

Unfortunately, while this work will bring us much closer to substantial completion, the actual paving days themselves will likely be very disruptive to vehicular traffic. Strider is still working through final details on the sequence of work, traffic control and detour routes, but it is safe to conclude that access into and out of downtown will be severely affected. To the extent possible, blocks will be opened for traffic once the street is ready, but the need to add striping will necessarily lengthen the amount of time when the street is closed.

City staff and Strider’s flaggers will be out in force to assist with getting customers where they need to go and to help facilitate deliveries to shops up and down the street. If you are a merchant and know that you have a delivery scheduled on one of the paving days, please do let us know so we can plan ahead to provide assistance. Likewise, for those merchants with breakables on shelves, we would ask that you pay special attention to securing these items as the vibration of the steamroller can work a glass vase onto the floor pretty quickly.

As more is learned about how the order of paving, we will issue a follow-up construction alert. In the meantime, please let one of us know if we can help you prepare.

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