Memorial Day is Monday, May 25, expect more pedestrians and cyclists around town as Whatcom County continues in Phase 1 of COVID-19 response. Ongoing street repair, maintenance and construction projects will affect traffic. Due to continued threat of COVID-19, City construction work will be assessed on a day-by-day basis. As always, please continue to follow the Governor’s Stay Home, Stay Healthy order, pay attention to Health Department recommendations and travel with care.
Bellingham Mayor Seth Fleetwood celebrated National Public Works Week this week with a video highlighting our City’s Public Works services. We are particularly thankful for the dedication and expertise of our Public Works team as we respond to the threat of COVID-19. They are hard at work, providing essential City services we all depend upon every day. View the video on the City’s YouTube page here or on the City’s Facebook page here.
Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation project (pictured)
The Annual Sanitary Sewer Rehabilitation project, with various locations throughout the City, is underway with excavation crews beginning work adjacent to the South Bay Trail near Wharf Street (location 10) requiring a trail closure. A pedestrian and bicycle detour will be in place. Once work is completed on this section the excavation crews will perform work on a few short duration sections as follows; Location 9 – east of High Street, Location 4 – the alley east of Commercial Street, Location 1 – Unity Street, Location 2 – the alley north of Holly Street, Location 3 – West Magnolia Street, Location 5 – the alley east of Billy Frank Junior Street, and Location 6 – the alley east of North State Street. This work is in preparation for the Cured in Place Pipe (CIPP) crews which will begin work in early June. This project is in multiple locations throughout the City. 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 is underway to replace sewer facilities in and around the restrooms at Lake Padden Park near the dog park, playground and pumphouse. A single bathroom will be available, as work this week is planned to include electrical work, which will necessitate the closure of one of the two bathrooms. Portable restrooms will be made available at the closed bathroom site. 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.
Harrison Street and James Street – Paving project
James Street work from Sunset Drive to Woodstock Way will continue evenings and nights this week. Detours and traffic control may be utilized as cleanup efforts are performed; local access will be maintained. Work to rehabilitate Harrison Street east of 40th is complete. For more information 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 installation along Aldrich Road and clearing/roadway excavation within the Horton Road right-of-way. A road closure on Aldrich will be in place from 7 am – 7 pm. Additional lane closures on Aldrich are expected to last throughout the duration of the project. Flaggers will allow for local access. Expect possible delays when traveling through this project site. For more information, visit the West Horton Road phase 1 web page or contact Freeman (Fritz) Anthony, P.E., project engineer, via fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
Cordata Park – phase 1
Cordata Park construction activities include changes to sidewalk alignment, pedestrian entries into the park, installation of artwork, irrigation and paving along Cordata Parkway. Occasional lane closures related to general park construction resumed and last into August. For more information, visit the Cordata Park project web page or contact project manager Jonathan Schilk at jschilk@cob.org or (360) 778-7000.
2019 Transportation Benefit District projects – several locations
The 2019 Transportation Benefit District (TBD) project is mostly complete with minor restoration work at Lakeway and Old Lakeway and paver installation at the intersection of Chestnut and Railroad Avenue and Commercial Street. For more information, visit the TBD project web page or contact Freeman (Fritz) Anthony, P.E., project engineer, via fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.
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.
Whatcom County
For updates on County projects near Bellingham, visit http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/308/Public-Works.
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.
