In addition to ongoing street work, there are a lot of potential distractions on City streets as of this weekend. From Saturday's “Fun with Fuzz” and a race, march, ride and Dirty Dan Festival on Sunday, on through next month's Ski to Sea Festival, it will be important to keep focused on pedestrians and cyclists as well as traffic conditions. Unless otherwise noted, businesses near street construction ARE open.
Holly Street – from Railroad Avenue to Bay Street
Work to upgrade sidewalks and repave Holly Street between Railroad and Bay is steadily moving south along Holly. Flagging for traffic will be provided around work zones, and pedestrians should expect detours (alternate routes). This overlay project – work normally done during better summer weather – has been moved up to winter and spring, to reduce the impact on downtown businesses. For more information, contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
West Holly Street – from Central Avenue to Broadway
Businesses remain open, though drivers may experience flagging, temporary lane revisions, and on-street parking restrictions, as crews continue work on a watermain utility replacement project. Road work will occur on Holly Street between Central and Broadway and on “E” Street between Holly and Dupont streets. For more information, visit the City's web page for the 2016 Watermain Replacement Program or contact Stephen Day, P.E., project engineer, at smday@cob.org or (360) 778-7944.
Girard and 'B' Streets
The failing traffic signal is being removed in favor of all-way flashing stop, and that 90-day study is coming to an end. As a result, the all-way stop is expected to become permanent. For more information, contact Steve Haugen, traffic operations engineer, at shaugen@cob.org or (360) 778-7700.
Silver Beach Ave and Arbor Court
Construction on the City's new water pretreatment plant inside Whatcom Falls Park will be limited to a four-day week, i.e. 7am-5:30pm, Monday through Thursday. Park visitors may experience traffic associated with that work with periodic flagging and limited trail access. Construction may be impacted by inclement weather. 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) may have projects scheduled in or near Bellingham. To find out, visit the Washington State Department of Transportation. For updates on Whatcom County Public Works traffic projects near Bellingham, visit http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/308/Public-Works.
* In honor of April as both Distracted Driving Awareness and Poetry Month and borrowing from the shaving cream company that first drew attention to the need for safe driving behavior: “Train approaching – whistle squealing – Stop! – avoid that run-down feeling – BurmaShave.”
Your City of Bellingham Public Works Department 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 general questions, please query AskPW@cob.org.
