PORT ANGELES ¬– A quarter-inch crack in a wall of the pavilion at The Gateway has delayed the project, said Terry Weed, Clallam Transit general manager.
Even the best outcome means a delay in the transit center, which was expected be completed this month, until at least Christmas.
Representatives of the city of Port Angeles, Clallam Transit, as well as the architects and structural engineers involved in the project will meet next week to sort out if the crack represents a structural problem, or a crack and nothing more, Weed said Thursday.
“We are not going to really know how that is going to work until next week,” Weed said.
“We are taking extra care and caution to make sure that the design was appropriate to begin with, that the contractor did the job as directed.”
Weed added that it is not “conclusive” whether or not the crack represents a structural problem.
He said the meeting probably will be on Thursday, though the date has not been finalized.
The Gateway includes a bus stop, parking garage, the pavilion, a four-faced clock tower, a break room for bus drivers, an office for downtown police officers, and rest rooms.
It is located between Front and First streets and Lincoln and Oak streets in downtown Port Angeles.
Too weak?
Parking spaces exist below the pavilion, and there is concern that the pavilion may not be able to support a second pour of concrete if a structural problem does exist, Weed said.
If there is a problem, he said steel reinforcement beams may be considered as a remedy.
Another pour of concrete is needed to cover the “post-tensioning cables” used to strengthen the building, he said.
Though at some point all cement cracks, Weed said a “special material” was used to reduce cracking by keeping water out. He did not know the name of the material.
Weed said the crack, discovered on Sept. 19 when the second pour of concrete was scheduled, has delayed the project.
Weed said engineers, which were sub-contracted by Krei Architecture in Seattle, and city staff have been reviewing the crack since.
The meeting next week will allow them to compare notes, he said.
Initially the project was expected to be completed in early September.
The latest estimate for completion was this month.
The project began in June 2007.
Delayed until Christmas
If there isn’t a structural problem and the project can move forward, Weed said he hopes that the project can be completed by Christmas.
He added that is just speculation at this point, and he won’t know for sure until the meeting next week.
Weed said he doesn’t know how long the project could be delayed if the crack represents a larger problem.
Primo Construction of Carlsborg has a $7.42 million contract with the city for the construction of The Gateway.
The City Council approved paying Krei an additional $90,960 for continuing its design and architectural review services beyond the initial completion date.
Its initial contract was for $242,020.
The Gateway construction is budgeted at $14.7 million by the city of Port Angeles.
State and federal grants contributed about $8.16 million.
Weed said the second pour of concrete is the only major task to complete on the project.
“It is on hold until the city can be satisfied that the pour would be appropriate,” he said.
“All indications are that it is not a structural problem.
“But we are not going to rule that out.”
Weed said Primo has scaled back its work force during the delay.
Jim Mahlum, The Gateway project manager for the city, referred all questions to Public Utilities Director Glenn Cutler, who was on vacation Thursday.
Roland Ordona, The Gateway site superintendant for Primo, couldn’t be reached for comment.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
