PORT ANGELES — The Gateway transit center will be fully opened to public use no later than Wednesday, city officials say.
That will allow the pavilion at the downtown project, budgeted at $14.7 million, to be used by the Wednesday Port Angeles Farmers Market.
The pavilion, its restrooms and the parking garage underneath it, are the only parts of the joint city of Port Angeles and Clallam Transit project that remain closed after about seven months of delays.
The Gateway — located on Front and Lincoln streets and Railroad Avenue — has a total of 169 parking spaces and also includes a transit lane, office for the Police Department’s downtown resource officer, a break room for bus drivers and a clock tower.
Most of the parking spaces at The Gateway were opened on May 22, and the transit lane was opened on April 13.
Duane Benedict, Port Angeles downtown resource officer, also took occupancy in his new office in late April.
Perhaps earlier
City Manager Kent Myers said the pavilion, the parking spaces underneath it and the public restrooms will open earlier than Wednesday, if possible.
That all depends on whether the concrete poured to provide additional structural support to the pavilion has reached its intended strength, said Glenn Cutler, city public works and utilities director.
Upon opening the pavilion — and the public restrooms that are accessed through it — the city will close the public restrooms located on the alley between First and Front streets and Oak and Laurel streets because the city doesn’t have the staff to maintain both, he said.
The Wednesday Farmers Market is expected to use The Gateway’s pavilion at no cost this Wednesday and June 24 as a free trial. Daily rental of the pavilion is $75 a day.
If vendors like the location, the summer Wednesday market — which has operated at First and Laurel streets — and possibly the year-round Saturday market — located in the parking lot of the Clallam County Courthouse at 223 E. Fourth St. — may be moved there permanently, said market Manager Michele d’Hemecourt.
Celebration date
Myers said a date for a celebration for completion of The Gateway is still in the works.
“We’re coordinating the actual celebration around the schedules of our Congressional delegation for their role in financing the project,” he said.
State and federal grants — totalling $8.1 million — have paid for much of the project. The rest of the money comes from $6.1 million in city funds and $500,000 from Clallam Transit.
Construction for The Gateway began in June 2007. The project was expected to be completed in November, but that was delayed due to large cracks that radiated from underneath a horizontal support beam in the parking garage beneath the pavilion.
The repair consists of a 7-foot-long slab of concrete reinforced with rebar underneath the support beam. It is intended to provide the structural support that the pavilion needs.
Myers said the city and Clallam Transit are still working to resolve who will hold a new parking management agreement with Heckman Motors for the project.
Clallam Transit General Manager Terry Weed said Internet service, security cameras and ticket sales people will be added next year at The Gateway if there is funding available.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
