PORT ANGELES — The city of Port Angeles’ contract with Primo Construction for The Gateway will likely have to be extended to finish the project, said Glenn Cutler, city Public Works director, says.
“I anticipate it will be extended,” Cutler said Friday.
“I’m still cautiously optimistic it will be finished, and will be available for Christmas.”
The contract with Primo is for $8 million.
The project, which was estimated to cost $13.8 million, is budgeted at $14.7 million.
The budget includes a contingency fund for cost overruns.
Yvonne Ziomkowski, city finance director, said costs are a little over the initial estimate, but the city still has money to spend within that budget.
Ziomkowski said she won’t know the exact cost of the project until it is finished.
Cutler said that he did not know how much the extension would add to the construction contract’s portion of the cost of the project, because city staff members haven’t completed estimates.
He said he will find out early this week when Primo can begin finishing the project — if city staff confirm that there are no structural problems with The Gateway.
Cracking
The project has been delayed while cracking in the east foundation wall of The Gateway’s pavilion is analyzed.
A report from structural engineers sub-contracted by Krei Architecture shows The Gateway project to be structurally sound, Cutler said.
City staff and the engineering firm Zenovic and Associates of Port Angeles will review the report — which was presented during a meeting with representatives from the city and Clallam Transit, Krei, and Primo Construction — early next week to confirm its findings.
Terry Weed, Clallam Transit general manager, said the construction contract with Primo was for 18 months and began in June 2007.
Weed and Cutler said on Friday they did not remember which specific date the contract will end.
Cutler said the last major part of the construction still to be completed is a second layer of cement pouring on the pavilion, which will allow for water drainage.
The cement pouring has been on hold while the cracking is investigated.
Cutler said it was the pattern of cracking, “which radiated out from under a beam,” that caused concern.
In order to see what was occurring underneath, Cutler said the cracked cement was chipped away.
Weed said the cracking has delayed that aspect of the project from being completed for four to six weeks.
The Gateway, which is a joint city and Clallam Transit project, includes a bus stop, parking garage, a pavilion, a four-faced clock tower, a break room for bus drivers, an office for downtown police officers and rest rooms.
It was initially expected to be completed in September, but its most recent completion date was for earlier this month.
The city has received $8.1 million in state and federal grant funding, and Ziomkowski said it has applied for an additional $2.7 million from the state.
Tom Ellis, Exceltech construction inspector, said the parking area below the pavilion had some minor water leaks, which had been fixed. He said the water did not cause any damage.
Exceltech is responsible for project planning and management, Cutler said.
Gap not a problem
On the east side of The Gateway, a gap can be seen between the cement wall that aligns with the pavilion foundation.
Cutler said it occurred about a year ago when the wall settled in the soil below, and added it does not reflect a structural problem.
A metal plate may be used to fill in the gap, he said.
According to Ziomkowski, major costs for The Gateway include:
• About $8 million to Primo.
• About $3 million for property acquisition, done by Clallam Transit.
• $616,000 to Exceltech.
• $412,728 Krei contract, which includes design review during construction.
• About $200,000 for signs for The Gateway.
Clallam Transit has provided $500,000 toward the project, in addition to the money for acquiring property.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
