PORT ANGELES – When the two Eighth Street bridges close later this summer, it could be for a shorter time period than first anticipated.
City Traffic Engineer Jim Mahlum said the project schedule from contractor Parsons RCI Inc. of Sumner, Wash., shows the Tumwater Creek bridge closing no earlier than Aug. 1, followed by the Valley Creek bridge one month later.
Both would be reopened by Oct. 1, 2008, or 14 months later, according to the project schedule, he said.
Two weeks notice will be given prior to each bridge closing.
The city’s designated detour routes are mapped out on the Eighth Street bridges section of the city’s Web site at www.cityofpa.us.
The city has planned since 2003 to replace the twin narrow bridges that have towered over Valley and Tumwater creeks for more than 70 years.
When the project first was presented to the public in 2004, the estimated closure period for the bridges was closer to 17 months.
Mahlum said the shorter time period is due to both bridges being closed at the same time.
The original plan was to keep one lane open across both bridges during construction.
The city’s police and fire departments cited better emergency response times and eliminating the cost of substations on the city’s west side if their personnel did not have to take detours.
But in discussions with contractors, city officials were told closing both bridges at the same time would save both time and money.
The city’s fire and fire departments also have dropped the idea of building substations, opting to use the Clallam County Juvenile and Family Services Department building at 1912 W. 18th St. if necessary.
When the project originally was put out to bid in December 2005, it called for 420 working days, or about 19 months.
Mahlum said the project contract calls for 350 “working days,” or about 16 months.
Since Parsons started on June 25, that means the project is scheduled to wrap up in the middle of November 2008, he said.
He personally counted the “working days” on the calendar, Mahlum said.
City Public Works Director Glenn Cutler said at a Wednesday morning meeting at City Hall that Parsons officials would update him Monday on demolition of the bridges.
The City Council selected a slant-leg design for the new bridges in March 2004, saying it wanted a signature architectural landmark for the city.
In June 2004, steel instead of concrete was chosen for the building material, but the project had to be redesigned and rebid after the low bid came in almost 50 percent above the $20 million budget.
The redesigned project will consist of concrete spans with five or six concrete piers over each of the valleys.
