Community Government Transportation

Contractor ‘on schedule’ for Harborview roundabout project

Two-way traffic at the Harborview Drive-Stinson Avenue roundabout construction project could reopen in the next few weeks. But a date can’t be announced yet because some of the work is weather-dependent, city of Gig Harbor spokeswoman Laura Pettitt said Tuesday.

According to information to be presented to the City Council at a study session on Thursday, “The contractor is still on schedule to remove the detour before Memorial Day weekend.”

Happening this week, according to Gig Harbor Public Works Director Jeff Langhelm:

• A subcontractor continues to pour concrete for curbs, gutters and sidewalks throughout the project.
• Weather permitting, the red-stamped concrete will be poured in the remaining roundabout island and for the crosswalk on Stinson Avenue.
• The roadway subgrade has been completed and the contractor is finishing the subgrade for the Eddon Boat Park pedestrian pathway.The electrical contractor is installing conduit and concrete foundations for the streetlights and flashing crosswalk systems.

To speed up the work, the city is providing contractor Active Construction an incentive of $5,000 for every working day that the project opens early to two-way traffic. It was originally scheduled to open on June 9.

Counting backward 15 working days would be about May 19 for Active to earn the maximum incentive of $75,000.

During closure of the intersection, drivers trying to go south on Harborview instead must contend with a long detour on the west side of Highway 16.

Even after the project reopens to two-way traffic, work on the Harborview roundabout will continue. Full completion is expected in July.

The work is intended to improve safety at the intersection and decrease wait times for people attempting to turn from Stinson on to Harborview.

A study commissioned by the city found that cars waited on Stinson an average of 1 minute, 48 seconds to enter Harborview. The city said the wait was projected to grow to more than 3 minutes over the next nine years.

Rendering shows what the completed Harborview Drive-Stinson Avenue project is expected to look like. City of Gig Harbor