On Saturday, expect the “March for Our Lives” to reroute some traffic and WTA busses downtown. However, the more long-lasting traffic impacts are from the many ongoing street and other construction projects. We’re heading into a busy construction season! Here’s more on what to expect, and where. As always, please travel with care.
James Street – at Sunset Drive
Two stormwater treatment devices are being installed to treat stormwater runoff from the James Street and Sunset Drive area. There are traffic control devices in place to shift lanes, providing for both lanes of traffic. Drivers can expect short periods of single-lane traffic during construction. Work on the project should wrap up by early April. For more information, contact Larry Scholten, P.E., project engineer at ljscholten@cob.org or phone (360) 778-7923.
Mahogany Avenue
Work is underway to construct Mahogany Avenue between Pacific Avenue and Northwest Drive and Arctic Avenue between Mahogany Avenue and West Bakerview Road. This project accommodates 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 underway. 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 will be 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.
Roeder Avenue, from Central to Bay, will likely be closed through April so that utility connections can be made for the ongoing waterfront project. 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.
In addition to the construction around the communications tower and parking lot, City Parks crews are pruning trees work to re-establish view corridors around the Observation Tower. That work should be done by the end of March. (The Sehome Arboretum Master Plan calls for selective tree and vegetation pruning to preserve panoramic views from the Observation Tower.) A portion of the Upper Huntoon Trail located below it will be closed during tree trimming. Trail detours are posted. For more information on this project visit the City’s View Restoration Project Web page or phone (360) 778-7102.
Williams and Utter Streets – Madison Street to Connecticut Street
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. The work began on Williams Street. 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 (pictured above)
Construction continues on this multimodal improvement project to improve sidewalks, street surfacing, bike lanes, drainage, access and illumination. 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 now Monday-Thursday is 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Fridays ending at 3:30 p.m., with occasional Saturday work. 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) has some projects underway that border Bellingham, including Mount Baker Highway (click here). 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.
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.
