North Oak Harbor Street Preview

The North Oak Harbor Street Improvement project will result in an entirely new street that is significantly improved. The main features are; a center lane for left turns from Whidbey to Crosby avenues, street lighting, a continuous 9-foot wide paved path along the west side, a continuous sidewalk along the east side, and landscaping.  The following links lead to grapic displays of the new street.

This link leads to an aerial photograph of the project site with the features of the new street inposed on the photo (This is a large file, high-speed internet service is recommended for viewing). http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B4Q0fBKNfMQcMTVhZjg1ZWQtOTIwYi00YTgyLTlhYTQtNDM3ZWMwMzBlN2Zk&hl=en

This link leads to a conceptual drawing of the new street and also includes an example plan for driveway reconstruction. http://docs.google.com/fileview?id=0B4Q0fBKNfMQcOGNmOGUwZWEtOTU2Yy00OWMyLWJmMmMtNmI5YmZiMzk1ODJl&hl=en

Arnie Peterschmidt

April 27 Update

Installation of new storm drain pipe and catch basins is nearing completion.  This work started near the Whidbey intersection and has been progressing north over the past 2 weeks.  The remaining storm drain work is on Crosby Ave and Oak Harbor Street north of the Crosby intersection.  Expect to find heavy equipment, men and traffic control in and near this intersection tomorrow and maybe Thursday too.

There is quite a bit of work similar to the storm pipe installation remaining including installing new water main from the NE 7th intersection north along Oak Harbor Street about 700 feet and trenching along the east side of Oak Harbor Street for underground power for street lights. 

We recognise that this project has been a great inconvenience to everyone but especially those living in the project area.  We will do our best to work with residents to reduce inconvenience.  Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns regarding this project.

Sincerely

Arnie Peterschmidt

April 12 Update

Reconstruction of N. Oak Harbor Street is steadily progressing. New storm drain pipes and catch basins are being installed at the intersection of Oak Harbor and Columbia. Expect work crews and heavy equipment to occupy the intersection again on Tuesday. Storm drain work will continue north through this week. Expect to find traffic control flaggers, alternating one-way traffic and some traffic delays during the day. Please be cautious driving through the construction zone. The road surface will be rough and irregular.
There has not been much rain lately so the project area is beginning to dry and become dusty. The Contractor will be spraying water from trucks to reduce the amount of dust from the site.

If you have any questions or concerns regarding construction activities, please contact Russ Pabarcus; 279-4520 or email: rpabarcus=oakharbor.org (substitute @ for the = in the address).

Arnie Peterschmidt

March 23 Update

We encountered unexpected problems with the water main today between 460 N. Oak Harbor Street and Whidbey Ave. While installing new storm drain pipe it was found that there were old fittings on the Oak Harbor Street water main that compromised the strength of the main and started to leak. Consequently we were forced to shut down part of the main without prior notice to our customers. We apologize for this inconvenience and recognize that the impacts to people are significant. City Water Department staff is working with the Contractor to restore water service at this time; water should be restored by 5:00 pm.




Asphalt demolition (grinding) over the entire project should be completed by the end of the day today. Sidewalk demolition on the east side of the street and storm drain installation will continue tomorrow.



Arnie Peterschmidt

March 22 Update

Work in the traveled portion of Oak Harbor Street began in earnest today. The primary work activities are demolition of the existing street and installation of new underground utilities in the street. Pavement grinding and storm drain installation is occurring between Whidbey Ave and NE 7th Ave. There were multiple work crews each working in a separate area of the project with lane closures at each site all day. The work sites are busy places, most have heavy earth moving or pavement grinding machines working and dump trucks coming and going.


Expect more of the same type and level of construction activity and traffic restrictions through Thursday afternoon. Pavement demolition and storm drain installation will progress north day by day. The existing sidewalks along the east side of Oak Harbor Street will also be demolished and removed.  Local access will be maintained but the flow of traffic will be interrupted frequently by lane restrictions and equipment movement. Please be cautious driving through the construction zone. The road surface will be rough and irregular. Men and machines will be constantly moving in the roadway and work continues and the work sites will change frequently.

Arnie Peterschmidt

                                Storm drain installation near St. Augustine Catholic Church

March 2 Update

Construction of the Oak Harbor Street Improvement Project is begining this week.  The first work to be done on site is relocation of utility poles.  Potelco, an affiliate company to Puget Sound Energy will be installing several new utility poles between now and March 10.  Please watch for construction zones and temporary traffic control when passing through the project area.

We anticipate that G & G Excavation, Inc., the general contractor, will mobilize to the site early next week and begin work. Reconstructing the road will require that lanes and sometimes the entire street be temporarily closed.  There will often be only a single lane open with vehicle traffic alternating direction in the remaining lane.  Expect frequent delays and changes to lanes and the road surface during construction.  It is recommended that through traffic avoid Oak Harbor Street north of Whidbey Avenue while work is in progress.  The recommended alternate routes are Heller and Goldie streets.

Local access will be maintained during construction as will access by emergency vehicles.

This blog will be updated regularly during the construction period.

North Oak Harbor Street Improvement Project Open House

The City of Oak Harbor is preparing to reconstruct Oak Harbor Street between the intersections with Whidbey and Crosby avenues. This project is intended to provide a safer, better street for all community residents and the traveling public. The project includes adding a continuous multi-use path along the west side of the street, continuous sidewalks along the east side, ADA compliant street and driveway crossings, a center left-turn lane, reconstruction of the intersections with Columbia Drive, NE 7th Avenue and Crosby Avenue, landscaping and repaving. Construction activities are expected to begin early in 2010.




The City will work with North Oak Harbor Street property owners, business owners and tenants to minimize the impacts and inconveniences of construction on you and the greater community.

The public is invited and encouraged to attend a Public Open House on Thursday, November 12, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Concordia Lutheran Church, 590 N. Oak Harbor Street. Open House information will include the scope of the project, project schedule, construction activities, traffic control, parking, and water service interruptions.