April Brews Day will bring thousands of people downtown this weekend, and thta could impact travel. Additionally, there are ongoing impacts are from current street and other construction projects underway. This is a busy season! Here's more on what to expect, and where. As always, please travel with care.
Texas Street – at St. Paul, Toledo, Undine Streets
We are working to treat stormwater runoff before it enters Fever and Whatcom Creeks. The City is installing stormwater filters and a bio-infiltration swale along Texas Street and within Roosevelt Park. One block of stormwater main will also be replaced between Alabama and Texas Streets. Flaggers will be on-site during the intersection work with through traffic restricted on Undine Street for that portion of the project. Local access will be maintained. For more information, contact Craig Mueller, P.E., project engineer at camueller@cob.org or phone (360) 778-7922.
Mahogany Avenue
Work is underway to construct Mahogany Avenue between Pacific Highway and Northwest Drive, including the intersection of Arctic Avenue with Mahogany Ave. This project accomodates new and proposed development in the area. Roadway improvements will include two travel lanes, bike lanes, illumination, landscaping, curbing, gutter and sidewalks. Private utilities are being relocated in the Northwest Avenue rights-of-way. Drivers can expect to see flaggers on site, with construction likely to last through 2018. For more information, visit the City's project web page or contact Sam Shipp, P.E., project engineer, at sshipp@cob.org or (360) 778-7942.
Donovan Avenue – Old Fairhaven Parkway to 17th Street
Work to replace an old and unreliable watermain on Donovan Avenue is ongoing. Over the next months, the main will be replaced from Old Fairhaven Parkway to Connolly Creek. Due to construction and the narrowness of Donovan, the road is closed to through traffic at the areas of active construction. Residents can expect construction noise between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. and temporary water disruption (those affected will be notified two-to-three days prior.) For more information, visit the City's project web page or contact Craig Mueller, P.E., project engineer, at camueller@cob.org or (360) 778-7922.
Cornwall Avenue at Laurel Street
This project will bring new public and franchise utilities, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parking, landscaping and street lighting, as well as street access to the waterfront. There are lane closures along with construction equipment and delivery vehicles coming and going from the former G-P waterfront area at Chestnut as well as the Cornwall and Laurel intersection and contractor traffic accessing the Granary building via a new (temporary) driveway on Roeder. Here's a video view of the site at sunset. Roeder Avenue between Central to Bay, which has been closed so that utility connections can be made for the ongoing waterfront project, will reopen on Thursday, May 3. Traffic will be detoured on Bay, Central and “C” streets. Please be alert and cautious in this area. For more, contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
Arboretum Drive – Sehome Hill Arboretum
Work on a replacement communications tower site at the Sehome Hill Arboretum upper parking area continues. The road gate at Arboretum Drive and the upper parking area will be intermittently closed. For more information, visit the City Web page for the Sehome Hill Communications Tower Replacement or contact Stephen Day, P.E., project engineer at smday@cob.org or (360) 778-7944.
Williams, Walnut and Utter Streets – various intersections and Madison Street to Eldridge
We are working to install 10 raingardens, three stormwater treatment vaults, upgrade catch basins, manholes and pedestrian ramps in the Columbia neighborhood. Over 80 acres of stormwater runoff will be treated prior to discharge to Bellingham Bay. Intersections will be temporarily closed during work and parking will be restricted in active construction areas. Local traffic will be maintained. For more information, visit the City's web page for the Columbia Rain Garden project, or contact Craig Mueller, P.E., project engineer, at camueller@cob.org or (360) 778-7922.
West Maplewood Avenue – Northwest Ave to Alderwood Ave
Construction is nearing an end on this multimodal improvement project to improve sidewalks, street surfacing, bike lanes, drainage, access and illumination. West Maplewood will be closed to through traffic May 1-2 for paving and initial roadway striping. Travelers and residents can expect flagging, temporary lane revisions, on-street parking restrictions and intermittent delays for construction work. For more information, visit the City's web page for the West Maplewood Multimodal Improvements, or contact Stephen Day, P.E., project engineer, at smday@cob.org or (360) 778-7944.
Silver Beach Ave and Arbor Court – water pretreatment
Work on the City's new water pretreatment plant at Whatcom Falls Park is ongoing Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Fridays ending at 3:30 p.m., with occasional Saturdays. There may be extra traffic associated with that work with flagging and limited trail access. Parking at Arbor Court and adjacent access to the waterline trail is closed. For more, visit the City's web page at DAF Water Treatment Plant or contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
WSDOT and Whatcom County
The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) may have projects that border Bellingham. For more information visit http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/. For updates on Whatcom County Public Works traffic projects near Bellingham, visit http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/308/Public-Works.
At Public Works we provide this “road report” as a public service, based on currently available information. When traveling through a construction area – whether walking, cycling or driving – please be patient, proceed with caution and obey flaggers at all times. Planned road closures and restrictions are necessary to allow for a variety of work including resurfacing, sidewalk construction, water and sewer main work, and utility cuts. Dates, times and work locations may change, depending on inclement weather or last-minute changes in work schedules. For questions, contact AskPW@cob.org.
