Infrastructure project brings two years of construction to Old Town Silverdale – Kitsap Sun

SILVERDALE A road project in Old Town Silverdale has begun and will continue for the next two years.

To minimize disruption to businesses, the project will be done in chunks, just a block or so at a time.

Kitsap County Public Works is making infrastructure improvements along Bay Shore Drive NW and Washington Avenue NW in Old Town Silverdale. The two-year project will upgrade the sanitary sewer and stormwater infrastructure and unclude road resurfacing and sidewalk construction on Bayshore Drive, Washington Avenue and Byron Street.(Photo: Contributed / Kitsap County)

The project is along Bay Shore Drive NW and Washington Avenue NW and is being done to replace 3,900 feet of sewer main. With thatcomes other things that need to be done, said Tina Nelson, senior program manager for Kitsap CountyPublic Works.

A new stormwater system will be installed to filter oil and sediments from water, and areas with drainage problems will be fixed. Sidewalks near the water on Bay Shore Drive are being widened from 5 feet to 8 feet, and streetlights will be installed. There will also be improvements at intersections and improved ADA ramps. About 3,300 feet of water main will be replaced and 700 feet of recycled water will be used for irrigation.

There is a bit of activity at the site currently groundwater monitoring wells are being installed and markings are being drawn on the road, Nelson said.Later this month the work by the contractor, Ceccanti, will begin.

The project will likely wrap up in late summer or early fall of 2022, Nelson said.

Nelson acknowledges there will be an impact on businesses in the area. Construction noise will be one, shesaid, andclosures along Washington Avenue and Bay Shore Drive will affect business access and parking. The closures will take place block-by-block so a business access wont be impeded for long. Nelson said the county public works department doesn'tyet know when exactly the closures will be, but the county will communicate with property owners and businesses when the time approaches.

She said there wont ever be a long complete closure.

Some of the properties don't have any other access than off of the main road, so we can't close the road for a long time, Nelson said.

Monica Downen, owner of Monicas Waterfront Bakery and Cafe in Old Town, said the closure will be difficult for businesses in the area, especially on top of dealing with the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Downen said businesses have proved they'readaptable during the pandemic. At her restaurant, staff hasmade to-go menu items and made curbside pick up much more accessible. The cafe hasturned the back alley into a make-shift drive-through. Theres no table service currently, as the cafe is small.

Businesses suffered during the widening of Silverdale Way in 2017, Downen said. But she doesn't expect as much of a downturn as a result of this project.

One thing shes worried about is parking.

Parking is already pretty minimal, she said. "All of the businesses rely on on-street parking massively. Im looking forward to it when its done, but its a two-year thing.

The project will close an entrance to the Port of Silverdale offices, and construction trailers may park in the ports lot, said Ed Scholfield, port commissioner.

"They're just now starting to assemble things," he said. "It's thesame group that worked on Silverdale Way and we've got a real good working relationship with them,and the countyhas been really good with us. We don't see any problems, if there are, you know, they're resolved fairly quickly with thatgroup."

The projects total cost is about $26 million. A total of $7.2 million will come from the county road fund, $12.6 million will come from the sewer utility fund, $5 million will come from the stormwater fund, and $1.2 million will come from the Silverdale Water District. Comcast will also contribute $40,000 to relocate someof itsfacilities in the area.

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Infrastructure project brings two years of construction to Old Town Silverdale - Kitsap Sun