PORT ANGELES — A $1.12 million stormwater project in west Port Angeles to relieve flooding and improve stormwater runoff water quality is expected to be finished by November.
The project includes rain gardens at eight intersections on South H, K, L and M streets, and the city is installing a new, larger drain pipe system to relieve flood problems on South H Street, said Kathryn Neal, city engineering manager.
“We want to wrap it up before the rains begin. They’re on schedule,” she said.
Work has been done at the intersections of South H and South K streets at West Fifth, Sixth and Seventh streets; at South L and West Fifth streets; and at South M and West Sixth streets.
The corners of each intersection are “bumped out,” and the rain gardens will fill the parking lanes near each intersection, leaving two 11-foot driving lanes for traffic, Neal said.
Neal said some residents reported that cars often speed through the area, and the narrowed intersections are expected to slow traffic on the neighborhood streets.
Stormwater problems
The project is expected to be a permanent solution for two city stormwater problems.
Prior to 2009, the area around South H Street tended to flood during heavy rains because of a stormwater pipe that was too small, Neal said.
She said the city installed a temporary drain system in 2009, but water runoff flowing into Port Angeles Harbor was still contaminated with pollutants such as oil from the roads.
In 2010, a permanent solution was sought, and the city applied to the state Department of Ecology for a water quality grant to install rain gardens and improve drainage.
“We did not win. We were disappointed,” Neal said.
In 2012, the city received a letter from Ecology that the city would receive a $1 million grant after all, she said.
The grant could be used only to improve water quality, and the city is responsible for the cost of the installation of the rain gardens.
Jordan Excavating of Port Angeles won the $1,125,308 bid in June. Construction began in July.
On Thursday, Jordan excavators dug out the corners of Fifth and L streets, while a crew from Wilson Concrete Construction laid out new curbs and gutters at Fifth and K streets.
Completed
When complete, the new intersections will have sidewalks and Americans With Disabilities Act-compliant ramps, each connecting to existing walking areas on their respective streets, Neal said.
Each rain garden on H Street will have an overflow drain attached to the new, larger stormwater pipe, while the K, L and M streets have no additional drainage, she said.
In November, Killdeer Landscaping of Chimacum will line each 3- to 4-foot-deep hole with filtration soils, leaving depressions for the water to gather.
They will plant 44 tupelo trees and 10 species of plants, selected for their ability to thrive in the varied conditions at the bottom of a rain garden.
In the deepest, soggiest areas, crews will plant slough sedge, small-fruited bulrush, prairie fire and dagger-leaf rushes.
In wet but less soggy areas, flowering plants were selected: common camas, violets, yellow-eyed grass and magic carpet spiraea.
On the drier edges, kinnikinnick and wild coastal strawberries will fill out the gardens.
________
Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5070, or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.