PORT ANGELES — The Olympic National Park Visitor Center and Wilderness Information Center in Port Angeles will reopen to the public at 9 a.m. Tuesday after an eight-month $3.4 million renovation project.
The temporary visitor center facilities at 600 E.Park Ave., will be closed today during relocation to the main building at 3002 Mount Angeles Road.
Today, while both park visitor center facilities in Port Angeles are closed, portable toilets and park brochures will be available at the temporary facilities on Park Avenue.
Backcountry campers can return borrowed bear cans to the drop bin or pick up self-registration permits at that location as well.
The renovation project, largely funded through entrance fees, brought the facility into compliance with the Architectural Barriers Act accessibility standards and current life/safety codes, improved energy efficiency and improved visitor and employee health and safety, according to park spokeswoman Penny Wagner.
A new exterior restroom facility was also added between the parking lot and the visitor center to address increased park visitation.
The renovation included replacement of the heating and ventilation systems; replacement of existing single-pane windows with double-pane windows; electrical, plumbing and seismic upgrades; replacement of light fixtures with LED lighting; renovation of the existing interior restrooms; installation of a fire suppression system; installation of additional insulation; connection to the city sewer system; replacement and repair of exterior concrete sidewalks and ramps; flooring and door replacement; installation of new interior signage; and exterior painting.
“Improving energy efficiency, accessibility and safety, along with the new exterior restroom and facility upgrades, will enhance the visitor experience at our main visitor center,” said park Superintendent Sarah Creachbaum.
The visitor and wilderness information centers were closed to the public Sept. 5 and relocated temporarily to two double-wide modular buildings on the front lawn of park headquarters.
Those will be removed in the next few weeks.
The $3,393,241 contract was awarded to Walker River Construction of Shurz, Nev. Walker River hired JMG Constructors, LLC of Keyport as the major subcontractor on the project.
Subcontractors involved included Olympic Electric, Schmitt’s Sheet Metal, Lakeside Industries, Ken’s Quality Hardwood Flooring, Angeles Communications and Everlasting Hardwood Floors, all of Port Angeles; United Test & Balance, Inc. of Port Townsend; Moon Construction Specialties of Sequim; Fox Fire of Port Orchard; Commercial Displayer’s and Extreme Flooring, both of Seattle; Harris Concrete Finishing of Bremerton; Coastal Services of Bellingham and Engle Plumbing of Indianola.
The visitor center, originally named the Pioneer Memorial Museum, was built in 1957 by several vocational carpentry classes from what was then the Port Angeles high school, Roosevelt High School.
Since then, the center has had several additions but this is the first major upgrades since its construction.
