PORT HADLOCK — Construction on Port Hadlock’s new sewer system will have temporary road closures scheduled throughout the project duration, which is expected through December.
Work on the first portion of the project began on Thursday, closing a portion of Lopeman Road for the day.
Future day-long closures are planned for Morrisey and Blanche avenues, but the dates have not been determined, said Samantha Harper, wastewater project manager for Jefferson County’s Department of Public Works.
“We’ll probably be at Morrisey on Tuesday; Blanche will probably be a week out from there,” Harper said. “We keep our Instagram and Facebook updated. That’s the best place to find the most current information.”
There are four sewer installation projects along county or state roads planned through December, but Harper said it’s not yet known how much of the work will require full road closures with detours.
The current project — along Chimacum Road from Elkins Road to south of Ness’ Corner Road — is scheduled to take place through July.
The second installation project — Masonic Hall Road, Matheson Street, Irondale Road, Alley Street, Curtiss Street trail to Ajax Cafe parking lot, Scott Road and behind Kivley Center — is scheduled for July through September.
The third leg of the project — Blanche Avenue, Christney Road, Cedar Avenue and Mason Street — is scheduled for September through November, and the final leg — Ness’ Corner Road, including crossings, and D Street — are set for October through December.
Work at each location includes the removal of shrubs, vegetation and asphalt, the installation of main line, the installation of side services, air relief valves, and cleanout and road restoration before final paving.
In all, the county is installing about 5 miles of low-pressure sewer pipe in a 3-mile area around the core of the Irondale and Port Hadlock Urban Growth Area.
The county awarded the contract in January to build the $10 million Membrane Bioreactor Wastewater Treatment Plant to Interwest Construction Inc. of Burlington. That project is expected to be completed in July 2025. Installation of on-site grinder pumps is still to be scheduled.
Totaling about $35.6 million, the sewer is being constructed to support increased density around Port Hadlock and Irondale.
It is essential for Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County’s plan to build an entirely new neighborhood of at least 150 homes on a parcel adjacent to the Jefferson County Library. Known as the Mason Street Project, about a third of the homes in the new neighborhood will be reserved for Habitat’s clientele of low-income individuals and families, while the remaining homes will be sold to private parties.
Habitat unveiled the first draft of plans for the community in January and hopes to begin construction in 2025 with the first homes occupied in 2027.
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Reporter Peter Segall can be reached by email at peter.segall@peninsuladailynews.com.
