From today's Junior Parade and Commercial Street Night Market downtown to next week's myriad Ski to Sea Festival events through town and into Fairhaven, there's a lot going on to impact traffic. But the good news is that some City construction projects have wrapped up – work on the tower on Sehome Hill and all the big stuff on W. Maplewood Avenue is now complete. However, as always, please travel with care. Here are the projects still under way which may affect your travel.
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 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 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 the street Donovan 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 deliver new public and franchise utilities, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, parking, landscaping and street lighting, as well as street access to the waterfront. Currently the City's water department is working on Cornwall at Laurel, so flaggers are on-site to direct traffic. There are lane closures along with construction 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. Please be alert and cautious in the area. As a reward, here's is a video view of the site at sunset. For more information, contact Freeman Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
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.
Silver Beach Ave and Arbor Court – water pretreatment
Work on the City's new water pretreatment plant at Whatcom Falls Park is entering its final months. Workers are on-site Monday-Thursday 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., on Fridays ending at 3:30 p.m., and 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 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.
