PORT ANGELES — Warning signs will begin going up and construction equipment and materials will start arriving Monday for the city’s downtown water main and sidewalk construction project.
“No traffic disruption is anticipated. We just wanted people to realize what was going on when the signs and equipment began arriving,” said city spokeswoman Teresa Pierce.
Actual construction will begin Oct. 29, a week earlier than anticipated, on Laurel Street between Railroad Avenue and Front Street and in the area of First and Valley streets, she said.
The work will eventually include detours for both vehicle and pedestrian traffic, Pierce said.
“These dates may change depending on weather conditions and the contractor’s progress,” she said.
“Downtown businesses will remain open during construction,” Pierce said.
Project contract
The City Council awarded the $2.42 million project contract to IMCO General Construction Inc. of Bellingham at its Sept. 4 meeting.
Under terms of the contract, no work will be done between Nov. 16 and Jan. 6 in the area east of Cherry Street — except for the corner of Front and Oak streets and Laurel Street north of Front Street — so holiday shopping isn’t hampered.
The project will replace water mains along both the north and south sides of First Street, and on the south side of Front Street from Oak to Valley streets.
Sidewalks will be replaced with paver sidewalks — red brick walkways — on both the north and south sides of Front Street between Oak and Cherry streets.
A half-block of sidewalk will be installed on the south side of First Street from Cherry Street west.
Water main replacement
The water main will be replaced and paver sidewalk will be installed along the north side of Front Street from Oak Street east to Laurel Street.
New paver sidewalk — decorative red brick walkways — will be installed along the west side of Laurel Street from Front Street to Railroad Avenue.
Finally, new structural sidewalk to preserve the last remaining section of the Port Angeles “underground” — the subterranean area of stores that preceded the raising of the flood-prone downtown more than 90 years ago — will be installed along the west side of Laurel Street between Front and First streets.
The project is being funded by a combination of a $2.2 million public works trust fund loan plus money from the city’s general fund, capital improvement fund and lodging taxes.
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Reporter Brian Gawley can be reached at 360-417-3532 or brian.gawley@peninsuladailynews.com.
