Capital Project Report for September 21 – 25, 2020

Smokey conditions continue to affect air quality, street construction could affect travel

September 18, 2020 - by Michelle Grandy, Public Works

Smokey air conditions have slowed outdoor activities. Air quality is being monitored and could affect some City construction crews. Capital construction and maintenance projects will continue to affect traffic. 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.

Samish Maple Ellis Multimodal Safety Improvements

The Samish Maple Ellis Multimodal Safety Improvements project has started with gutter and sidewalk construction on Samish Way south of Byron Street and construction along Maple and Ellis streets. Flaggers will allow for local access and direct travelers to area detours. For more information, visit the Samish-Maple-Ellis Multimodal Safety Improvements website or contact Freeman (Fritz) Anthony, P.E., project engineer, at fanthony@cob.org or (360) 778-7924.

Sehome Hill Communications Tower – Antenna Installation/Tower Demo

Work has begun to install the remaining antennas on the new communications tower, remove equipment from the old tower and demolish the old tower and building. The initial phase of the project was completed ahead of schedule and 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 and new sidewalk and gutter at Holly Street/Lakeway Drive and Ellis Street along with pavement marking modifications on Magnolia Street. Flaggers will allow for local access. Please note: Ellis Street and York Street will have a major change in traffic striping to remove vehicle lanes and add bike lanes starting September 14. 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. WTA is being coordinated with for impacts between 30th and 32nd Streets. 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. Traffic is reduced to a single lane on a gravel bypass road with flaggers present to facilitate installation of a new fish passable culvert. The culvert is now installed and the street will be reopened to traffic once it has been paved and guardrails are in place. 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 the main line pipe. The sewer service line CIPP placement will continue 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.

West Horton project

The West Horton Road project is underway with utility and retaining wall 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 99% complete. Contractor will need to access the site with small trucks and the occasional large truck delivery to complete punchlist items during the 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.


Media Contact

Paul Reed, Construction Manager
City of Bellingham – Public Works
(360) 778-7700
preed@cob.org


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