Summer may be coming to a close as we enter September this week, however City construction continues to be in full swing. Capital construction and maintenance projects will affect traffic and expect more pedestrian, bicycle and vehicle traffic around town as dry and sunny weather patterns continue. Due to continued threat of COVID-19, City construction work will be assessed on a day-by-day basis. As always, please pay attention to Health Department recommendations and travel with care.
Sehome Hill Communications Tower – Antenna Installation/Tower Demo (new)
Work has begun to install the remaining antennas on the new communications tower and to remove equipment from the old tower. During the initial phase of construction some of the trails near the towers may be closed intermittently during the hours of construction. The first phase of the work should last up until mid to late September. Once the first phase is complete the City will have until mid to late October to remove the remaining equipment in the building at the old tower site (there should be no trail closures due to construction during the City’s relocation). The contractor will then begin the demolition of the old tower and building followed by landscape restoration which will again require intermittent trail closures during the hours of construction. For more information visit the Sehome Hill Communications Tower – Antenna Installation Tower/Demo Project website or contact Aric Smathers, P.E., project engineer, at arsmathers@cob.org or (360) 778-7942.
2020 TBD Projects and 40th Street Sidewalk
The 40th Street Sidewalk and 2020 TBD Projects are underway with demolition at Holly/Lakeway and Ellis along with restoration at 14th/Old Fairhaven Parkway. Flaggers will allow for local access. Expect possible delays when traveling through this project site. For more information, visit the 2020 TBD Projects and 40th Street Sidewalk website or contact Freeman (Fritz) Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
2020 Watermain Replacement project
The 2020 Watermain Replacement project will replace a watermain on Donovan Avenue from Connelly Creek to 36th Street, and on 35th Street from Donovan Avenue to one block north. Watermain installation will begin at Connelly Creek and move eastward. The affected blocks will be closed to through traffic, with the exception of Donovan Avenue between 30th and 32nd Streets, which will be maintained as one lane during working hours and returned to two lane traffic at the end of each day. Flaggers will allow for local access. Expect detours for affected closures. For more information, visit the 2020 Watermain Replacement Project website or contact Craig Mueller, P.E., project engineer, at camueller@cob.org or (360) 778-7922.
Squalicum Creek Reroute – phase 3 and 4 project (pictured)
The Squalicum Creek Reroute – phases 3 and 4 project will fill in approximately ¾ of Bug Lake and create a new channel to the south, under Squalicum Parkway, in a new culvert. The lake will be converted to its original state as a forested wetland. The project will improve water quality in Squalicum Creek and will provide additional habitat for salmonids while improving riparian habitat. Flaggers will be present near Bug Lake for creation of a traffic bypass in preparation for the new culvert installation. Beginning September 8, traffic will be reduced to a single lane on a gravel bypass road with flaggers present for up to 3 weeks to facilitate installation of a new fish passable culvert. Please expect minor delays. For more information, visit the Squalicum Creek Reroute Project website or contact Craig Mueller, P.E., project engineer, at camueller@cob.org or (360) 778-7922.
Meridian Street Water Quality Improvements
The Meridian St. water quality project on Meridian Street (State Route 539) between Bakerview Road and Stuart Road and on Kellogg Road will install 17 water quality devices to treat roadway runoff. This work will occur at night between 7 PM and 7 AM, Monday through Friday. The roadway will remain open with lane closures and lane shifts in place to facilitate construction. Flaggers will be present to provide additional traffic and pedestrian control as necessary. For more information, contact Larry Scholten, P.E., project engineer, at ljscholten@cob.org or (360) 778-7923.
2020 Overlay – Bill McDonald and Britton Road project
The 2020 Overlay – Bill McDonald and Britton Road project is largely complete with paving marking work and site restoration underway along Bill McDonald Parkway and Britton Road. Flaggers will allow for local access and direct travelers to area detours. For more information, visit the 2020 Overlay – Bill McDonald and Britton Road website or contact Freeman (Fritz) Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation project
The Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation project, with various locations throughout the City, is underway with the CIPP placement, cleanup and restoration to finalize the project. The cured in place pipe (CIPP) crews have completed most of the main line pipe with location 10 remaining. The crew is scheduled to perform this work on September 3 which will impact the South Bay Trail near Wharf Street with a pedestrian and bicycle detour. The sewer service line CIPP placement will begin this week and is anticipated to take approximately 3 weeks. This work will be followed by the sewer manhole rehabilitation. The project is scheduled for completion in mid to late September. For more information and a site map with locations listed visit the Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation Project website or contact Aric Smathers, P.E., project engineer, at arsmathers@cob.org or (360) 778-7942.
Lake Padden Park – Sewer project
Work to upgrade the sewer facilities and pump stations is nearing completion, as the remaining components are installed and piping is tied over to the new system. The areas affected include the dog park restroom, playground restroom and the pump house. As we move forward with the final phase of this project, the restrooms will be intermittently offline in the coming weeks, but we will have portable bathrooms in place when needed. Please use caution in and around the work zones. For more information, visit the Lake Padden Lift Stations project webpage or contact Larry Scholten, P.E., project engineer, at ljscholten@cob.org or (360) 778-7923.
West Horton project
The West Horton Road project is underway with utility and culvert installation within the Horton Road right-of-way. Construction traffic may be encountered at the connection to Aldrich Road and along Horton Road. Expect possible delays when traveling near this project site. For more information, visit the West Horton Road phase 1 website or contact Freeman (Fritz) Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924
Cordata Park – phase 1
Cordata Park construction is near completion. Contractor will need to access the site with small trucks and the occasional large truck delivery to complete punchlist items during the last half of August and first half of September. For more information, visit the Cordata Park project web page or contact project manager Jonathan Schilk at jschilk@cob.org or (360) 778-7000.
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT)
Drivers can get real-time traffic information on their phone with the WSDOT traffic app, tracking the WSDOT north Twitter feed, and get advanced information from the WSDOT construction page. For ongoing information on current local projects, check out https://wsdot.wa.gov/projects
Whatcom County
For updates on County projects near Bellingham, visit http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/308/Public-Works. Subscribe to Whatcom County Public Works email newsletter here.
We provide this “capital project report” as a public service based on currently available information. When traveling through a construction area – whether walking, cycling or driving – please be patient, travel with care and always obey flaggers. In dark conditions, please make sure you’re visible to others. 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 vary, depending on inclement weather or last-minute changes in work schedules. Questions? Contact AskPW@cob.org.
