Two major waterfront development projects are moving forward after Bellingham City Council approved two bid awards on Monday, Oct. 9.
The Granary Avenue and Laurel Street project involves construction of a new roadway through the site and includes public/private utilities, sidewalks, a marine outfall, two-way cycle track, landscaping and street lighting from Roeder to Cornwall. The City approved an $8,710,938.08 bid to Ram Construction to complete this project, which is anticipated to start in November.
The Waypoint Park project is also moving forward. The $2,048,317.47 bid award to Strider Construction will prompt construction of the one-acre park beginning this fall. Located at the end of Central Avenue next to the Granary Building, our newest waterfront park will include a new beach, playground, waterfront trail, art, and near shore habitat. Park improvements to adjoining Central Avenue Pier are already underway. Work on the pier was awarded to Ram Construction earlier this year and is expected to be complete in the fall.
The Granary Building, sold by the Port of Bellingham to a private developer, is expected to be completed in 2017 with shops, restaurants and upper-story offices.
“I’m so excited for the waterfront to finally have this public access,” Mayor Kelli Linville said. “Once the park and Granary Building are finished, it’s going to be such a great place to gather. With the recent ribbon cutting at ITEK, the opening of the Granary Building, the great public art with the acid ball, and now the first new road and park, our waterfront is moving forward.”
For more information on the Granary Avenue and Laurel Street or Waypoint Park projects, please visit the City of Bellingham project page.
