A car crosses the Lauridsen Boulevard bridge spanning Peabody Creek on Wednesday in Port Angeles. Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News

A car crosses the Lauridsen Boulevard bridge spanning Peabody Creek on Wednesday in Port Angeles. Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News

43-year-old Port Angeles bridge to be replaced for $4.5 million

PORT ANGELES — The City Council this week awarded a $4.5 million contract to replace the aging bridge carrying Lauridsen Boulevard over Peabody Creek and also heard a staff recommendation that no action be taken on a proposal for roundabouts on the boulevard.

City public works staff recommended to the council Tuesday evening that the city not move forward with two single-lane traffic roundabouts suggested in a consultant’s report, which cost the city $100,515, for the intersections of Lauridsen Boulevard and Lincoln and South Laurel streets.

The council took no action on the recommendation.

“It’s very expensive with no significant benefit tied to it,” Public Works Director Glenn Cutler said of the roundabouts, adding, “The cost benefit isn’t there to spend the money.”

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

The city will move forward with replacing the 43-year-old Lauridsen Boulevard bridge — described as structurally deficient and functionally obsolete — under a $4.5 million contract with Scarsella Bros. Inc., Cutler said.

The Kent-based contractor is currently completing the U.S. Highway 101 widening project between Port Angeles and Sequim, and the Deer Park Road overpass project, both under contract with Clallam County.

A federal bridge grant program will provide the city with 80 percent of the bridge’s replacement cost, Cutler said, while the city will chip in the remaining 20 percent.

Construction on the new bridge likely will start in July or August, Cutler said, and wrap up in February or March of 2014.

East Eighth Street will be the main detour while Lauridsen Boulevard is closed at the bridge during construction, consultants contracted with the city have said.

The new bridge will feature a driving surface 18 feet wider than the existing one and include an eastbound center turn lane, two 12-foot-wide vehicle lanes and two 5-foot-wide bike lanes.

The traffic signal at the intersection of Race Street and Lauridsen Boulevard, just east of the bridge, also will be replaced as part of the project.

Concerning the suggested Lauridsen Boulevard roundabouts, Cutler said the city paid $100,515 last March to Olympia-based Exceltech Consulting to help complete a traffic study and design four initial alternatives for roundabouts and intersection upgrades along Lauridsen Boulevard.

The point of the study, which estimated traffic flows stretching into 2035 and development of alternatives, was to determine how best to improve traffic flow and pedestrian safety, among other things, along Lauridsen Boulevard, Cutler added.

Single-lane roundabouts at Laurel and Lincoln streets along Lauridsen Boulevard — on either side of Albertsons — were the preferred alternative and received preliminary approval from the state Department of Transportation, city civil engineer Jim Mahlum said, though the project’s $2.2 million price tag was deemed too expensive for the benefits it would provide.

“In my opinion, there are higher-priority needs the city should be pursuing,” Cutler said.

The city’s not moving forward with the roundabouts also puts on hold the development of an alternative truck route leading from Highway 101 south via Race Street and west along Lauridsen Boulevard, Cutler said.

“That’s not on the near horizon,” said Cutler, adding that such a route would need separate City Council approval and go through a public review process.

“I would say it’s not something being actively pursued.”

Reporter Jeremy Schwartz can be reached at 360-452-2345, ext. 5074, or at jschwartz@peninsuladailynews.com.

More in News

A pair of wind surfers take off from the breakwater at Port Townsend Marina in an apparent race across the bay on Tuesday. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Catching the wind

A pair of wind surfers take off from the breakwater at Port… Continue reading

Clallam County Economic Development Council Director of Operations Lorie Fazio, left, and Executive Director Colleen McAleer stand with Michael Cade, executive director of Thurston EDC who presented the WEDA’s 2025 Innovation in Economic Development award. The EDC received the award last month in recognition of its Clallam Forest Product Innovation Program.
Clallam EDC wins state innovation award

Forest innovation program intended to revitalize industry

Port Townsend library to show Willa Cather documentary

Free novels, dramatic reading Thursday at 5:30

Jefferson sets short-term rental rules

County establishes 4 percent cap, one rental per operator

When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan)
When former deputy and pilot John L. Strachan told his wife Jennie that his final wish was for his ashes to be sent into space, she wondered if he was kidding. After all, could such a thing even be done? Turns out, it can — and Jennie is making it happen. (Jennie Strachan)
Former deputy’s ashes to be sent into space

Widow of John Strachan to fulfill his dream

Port OKs Citizen Air lease

Company purchasing Rite Bros. Aviation

Rebates offered for e-bikes through April 23

The state Department of Transportation will accept applications for e-bike… Continue reading

Jefferson County Public Health names heroes

Jefferson County Public Health has announced its 2025 Public… Continue reading

Man transported to hospital after log truck goes into ditch

A log truck driver was transported to Forks Community Hospital… Continue reading

Heath Wade, 5, leads the goat parade to open the 37th annual Port Townsend Farmers Market on Saturday in the uptown neighborhood. Behind are goat wranglers Lindsey Kotzebue and Amber Langley of Port Townsend. (Steve Mullensky/for Peninsula Daily News)
Market opens

Heath Wade, 5, leads the goat parade to open the 37th annual… Continue reading

Kelly Kidwell, a local business owner and property developer, is purchasing Rite Bros. with the intention of building a long-term sustainable business that will expand aviation access in the area. Citizen Air, based at William R. Fairchild International Airport, will offer charter flights and fractional aircraft ownership. The possibility of scheduled flights could be in the distant future. Kidwell is shown with his Poodle-Bernese mountain dog, Porter. (Paula Hunt/Peninsula Daily News)
Citizen Air aims to expand access

New Rite Bros. owner planning for growth

Health officer: Disease numbers low, but cuts affecting programs

Additional measles case located in Washington state