PORT ANGELES — A second round of bidding garnered hits from seven contractors to build an interpretive center overlooking the free-flowing Elwha River.
The three Clallam County commissioners Tuesday opened bids for the grant-funded Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway Association facility that will tell the story of the Elwha River and its $325 million dam removal and restoration project.
No bids were submitted earlier this fall because contractors were busy on other jobs, Assistant County Engineer Joe Donisi has said.
The $285,000 interpretive gateway center at state Highway 112 and Lower Dam Road will feature a 16-panel kiosk under a 30-foot-by-30-foot wooden structure with 300 floor tiles painted by elementary school students.
The mini-rest area will have a vault toilet, picnic tables and bicycle rack.
Hoch Construction of Port Angeles submitted a low bid of $213,827 for construction of the interpretive center.
Five of the bids came from Clallam County contractors. The other two came from companies in Burlington and Shelton.
The Elwha project is funded with a $208,000 grant from the Federal Highway Administration and a $77,000 match from the Clallam County road fund.
It will become the first signature attraction on the 61-mile Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway from Lairds Corner near Port Angeles to Neah Bay.
The bids were referred to the county road department for an analysis and recommendation back to the board.
Open in May
If all goes according to plan, the interpretive center will open in May before the summer tourist season begins.
“We are guardedly optimistic,” said Carolyn Flint, Juan de Fuca Scenic Byway Association board member and assistant project manager.
The project is a collaboration of the scenic byway association, National Park Service and Lower Elwha Klallam tribe.
In other board action, commissioners voted 2-0 — with Mike Chapman abstaining — to approve a $200,000 agreement with Peninsula Behavioral Health to fund renovations to the former St. Vincent de Paul building at 112 E. Eighth St. in Port Angeles.
The space has been converted into a voluntary mental health crisis center, called a respite center.
Chapman said he abstained in response to his neighbors’ complaints about the facility.
“I know we approved this in the budget,” he said.
“I know the money’s been spent. I also happen to live in this neighborhood. I have a lot of neighbors who are really upset.”
Chapman suggested that the city of Port Angeles and Peninsula Behavioral Health “do more community outreach when they put these facilities right in the neighborhoods.”
“People get very confused, they get scared, they get nervous,” Chapman said.
“This is now multiple of facilities right in the middle of Cherry Hill neighborhood. People just feel like they’re not being listened to, and they’re concerned.”
Commissioner Mike Doherty said the mental health crisis center has been a topic of discussion for more than a decade.
“Part of the reason I know that we supported it was it was on the east-west, north-south access in town, so if you needed a transit bus or if your family didn’t know where to go, law enforcement could point them to a pretty strategic location in town,” Doherty said.
“And then they own the property,” he added.
“That brought the cost way down for the facility.”
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5072, or at rollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.