Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Construction Briefing No. 30
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

December 20, 2011

Sidewalks, Paving Now Complete!

Just after 10:00 am this morning, the last section of new sidewalk paving was finished. Effectively, this milestone brings to a close the installation of hard surfaces on Pioneer Way and literally “paves” the way toward final completion. Obviously, some work remains to dress up the Ireland to Ilwaco block consistent with the rest of the street (railing, landscaping, benches, sidewalk grid, planter pots, etc.). Strider will also be busy starting January 3 checking off the remaining punchlist items. Plus, everyone seems to be looking forward to the day when the private utility conversions are complete and the wires and poles can be removed, very likely within the first three months of 2012. Bringing the wires down will also allow the contractor to install the rest of the streetlights. Bottom line, a significant threshold crossed in completing the paving and sidewalks, but some work still to accomplish early next year.

Please note that starting this Thursday, December 22, and continuing until Tuesday, January 3, neither Strider nor any of their subcontractors will be working. However, you may see one or more of the utility companies (PSE, Frontier, Comcast) or private electrical contractors working on the underground conversion work during this period.

A Big Thank You from your Project Staff

A number of you with businesses and/or properties on and around Pioneer Way have been kind enough to express your appreciation for our day to day efforts to keep the project moving and find ways to make a tough situation just a little bit more tolerable. Rhonda, Joe and I (along with all City staff who had a hand in supporting the project) thank you for that support but, truly, it is all of you who deserve our thanks. You welcomed us to downtown, your neighborhood, and we hope that we have paid back that welcome to the best of our abilities. Our work with you continues into 2012 and we look forward to wrapping things up in style. For the moment, seasonal warm wishes to one and all and see you soon on Pioneer!

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

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Construction Alert No. 29
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

December 13, 2011

Revised Archaeological Excavation Permit Expected Tomorrow Morning

Based on conversations with the State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation, it appears highly probable that the City will receive its permit revision tomorrow morning. The revisions will specifically authorize paving the parking spaces in front of Mike’s Mini Mart and hand excavating about 1-3 inches in a 50-foot stretch of the southern sidewalk near the Pioneer entry steps to Mi Pueblo. The archaeology crew will return tomorrow (Wednesday) morning. The screening fence will be in place during excavation but the work is projected to be completed in one day. With the exception of ongoing construction monitoring, this effort will effectively complete the archaeological excavation work on Pioneer Way.

Sidewalks Coming

Depending on weather and likely starting tomorrow (Wednesday), S & S Concrete will return to being pouring the sidewalks in the unfinished section, including those parking spaces in front of Mike’s Mini Mart. According to the contractor’s schedule, sidewalk installation will take about 4 to 5 working days to complete so we are hopeful of several dry days between now and the Christmas holiday.

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

Friday, December 9, 2011

Construction Alert No. 27
Pioneer Way Reconstruction Project

December 8, 2011

Paving Tomorrow Between Ireland and Ilwaco

With the aid of some beneficial December weather, Strider is slightly ahead of schedule in their efforts to complete the unfinished stretch of Pioneer Way. As a result, Lakeside Industries will arrive on the street tomorrow (Friday) morning to pave the Ireland and Ilwaco intersections and the remaining piece of Pioneer Way. Their plan is to complete the paving to full depth in one day, meaning that the street should be fully in place and accessible by the end of the day.

Unfortunately, we do not expect to receive our archaeological permit revision for the raised northern parking area between Ilwaco and Ireland (in front of Mike’s Mini Mart) until Wednesday of next week, so those spaces will not be paved tomorrow with the rest of the street. However, these spaces will be paved with concrete either late next week or early the following week when the concrete subcontractors return to pour the new sidewalks. Weather permitting, all asphalt and concrete work should be complete before the Christmas holiday weekend.

Brief Detour Tomorrow Morning

Also, the presence of the paving crew in town means that the striping subcontractor will also be here. To take advantage of their presence, we have asked them to repair the turn arrow on Pioneer just west of Dock Street (in front of Glamorous). A brief detour will be necessary but we have asked the subcontractor to re-open the street no later than 11:00 am. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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