PORT ANGELES — An unplanned delay in asphalt paving means motorists will continue having a rough ride on busy Front Street between Oak Street and Marine Drive this week.
And nightly, blocklong downtown road closures will begin Wednesday.
Paving slated to begin last week on the churned-up road surface is now expected to be completed between July 5 and July 31, City Engineer Mike Puntenney said Friday.
“Lakeside [Industries] has too many other commitments in the queue,” he said.
The road surface had been broken up during the city’s $15.2 million phase two installment of the combined sewer overflow (CSO) project.
It will remain gravelly and rough for the time being.
“It’s not pleasant,” Puntenney acknowledged.
The project includes laying a new sewer main east from Marine Drive to Lincoln Street that will then turn south to Second Street.
Its installation will prompt the nighttime road closures for about three weeks beginning Wednesday and lasting four to five weekday nights a week.
TEK Construction of Bellingham, the contractor for the sewer-main portion of the project, will close one lane from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. to accommodate ferry traffic and both lanes — the entire block — from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m.
The First Street closures will occur between intersecting streets: from Oak to Laurel, Laurel to Lincoln, Lincoln to First Street and First to Second.
Intersecting streets will remain open, as will all sidewalks, providing access to local businesses.
“There will be noise during that time frame, there’s no doubt about that,” Puntenney said earlier last week.
He said it won’t be as disruptive as the citywide din caused by pile-driving for the ongoing pump-station portion of the CSO project.
“There may be some noise they can hear along the bluff,” he said.
“We’re hoping that in front of any one particular building that it is a day or two of inconvenience.”
The Fourth of July parade will not be affected by the project.
Once the sewer line is installed — by July 31 — construction on phase two will be confined to the pump station where Marine Drive blends into First.
Construction is expected to begin on the two-story pump station by mid-July.
It will replace the pump station across the street, which will be demolished, allowing complete access to Valley Creek Estuary Park.
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Senior Staff Writer Paul Gottlieb can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5060, or at pgottlieb@peninsuladailynews.com.
