As we begin the New Year, there are a few street construction projects underway and a road closure pending. These days it gets dark early, so it's especially important to watch for pedestrians who may be in dark clothing, as well as cyclists and other cars. Please travel with care this weekend and all year.
Cornwall Avenue at Laurel Street
Work is underway on the waterfront with Granary Avenue and Laurel Street construction, to include new public and franchise utilities, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parking, landscaping and street lighting, as well as street access to the waterfront. Residents and drivers can expect 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.
It's also important to know that Roeder Avenue, from Central to Bay, will be closed from mid-January through March so that utility connections can be made for the ongoing waterfront project construction. 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.
West Maplewood Avenue – Northwest Ave to Alderwood Ave
Construction currently on winter hiatus for this multimodal improvement project to improve sidewalks, street surfacing, bike lanes, drainage, access and illumination. The project will resume by early March. 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.
James Street at Woodstock Way
Woodstock Way and James Street are fully open to traffic; however, some work is being done while traffic flows. The project was done to improve safety as well as pedestrian and bicycle route connectivity. For more, visit the City's web page, Woodstock Intersection Improvements, or contact Craig Mueller, P.E., project engineer, camueller@cob.org or (360) 778-7922.
Silver Beach Ave and Arbor Court
Construction on the City's new water pretreatment plant inside Whatcom Falls Park is between 7:30 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday-Friday. 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 through 2018. For more information, 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) often have projects scheduled in or near Bellingham. To find out, visit https://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.
Your Public Works team provides 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.
