PORT ANGELES — Clallam Transit on Monday accepted a final contract with Primo Construction for The Gateway transit center, another step toward closure on the downtown Port Angeles mega-project in which $500,000 is still in dispute.
Final acceptance does not include the additional $150,000 that Carlsborg-based Primo was seeking from the city of Port Angeles and Clallam Transit for delays caused by a crack found in the underground parking area during construction last year.
Nor does it close the door on further negotiations with the general contractor for the $15.36 million project.
“We’re just bound to follow state law in that regard,” Clallam Transit General manager Terry Weed said.
“This is more of a legal move here that complies with the state [law] on how you deal with contracts, and starts the clock on the claims period and possibly for Primo to get back some of their investment on a bond.”
The city and Clallam Transit are still seeking $500,000 in reimbursement from Krei Architecture.
The Gateway at the corner of Front and Lincoln streets includes a pavilion, 174 parking spaces, a transit street, clock tower, break room for bus drivers, office for the Port Angeles downtown resource police officer, public restrooms and a yet-to-be-open ticket center.
The facility opened last June.
About $8.1 million came from state and federal grants, $500,000 from Clallam Transit and about $6.76 million from the city.
“We just did construction management on that,” said Glenn Cutler, public works and utilities director for the city.
“There’s no further action for the [City] Council on that contract.”
Clallam Transit made its final payment to Primo in October.
“There’s no further work to be done,” said Craig Miller, who provides legal counsel for Clallam Transit.
The city has applied for a $550,000 federal grant that would also reimburse its expenses on the project.
City Manager Kent Myers and Weed have both said that they are “hopeful” that the final costs will be resolved by April 1.
Also Monday, Clallam Transit appointed new representatives from the cities of Port Angeles, Sequim and Forks to its board.
The new board members — all members of their respective city councils — are Patrick Downie and Max Mania from the city of Port Angeles, Susan Lorenzen and Don Hall from the city of Sequim and Bruce Guckenberg and Mayor Bryon Monohon from the city of Forks.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.