Construction on Fort Nugent Road and Loerland Drive is expected to occur in the summer followed by road construction in neighborhoods near Crosby Avenue in the fall.
Tuesday night, the Oak Harbor City Council unanimously approved an agreement with Island County to provide services for the Transportation Benefit District projects.
Last fall, Oak Harbor voters passed an increase in sales tax to fund street repair and maintenance through the benefit district.
The city is moving forward with the top priority projects and the agreement allows the city to pay the county for doing the roadwork.
Fort Nugent Avenue, which City Engineer Jim Bridges called the “worst section,” will be reconstructed between Ridgeway Drive and Quince Street and will receive an asphalt overlay west of Swantown Avenue.
Loerland Drive, Outrigger Loop and Lanyard Loop will also receive asphalt overlays sometime between June and July of this year.
Residential areas near Crosby Avenue and west of Oak Harbor Street are expected to receive chip seals between September and October.
The county estimates the project will cost $1.2 million. The budget, however, includes an $80,000 contingency, and Bridges said he expects the cost of asphalt to be lower than the county’s estimate.
During the Feb. 26 council workshop, when the projects were also discussed, Council Member Tara Hizon wanted to make sure residents were aware of the upcoming construction, particularly the chip sealing, that is supposed to take place near Crosby Avenue.
“The obvious advantage of doing an entire neighborhood at a time, you know there’s cost savings,” Hizon said. “But then there’s also the inconvenience to the neighborhood because you’re going to be there for a lot longer.”
Bridges said that it will require cooperation with the residents because cars will have to be removed from the streets.
But, after the streets are repaired, they will be open to the public within three to four hours, he said.
During the workshop, Councilman Bill Larsen further stressed the importance of notifying the public with signs.
“People need to see this is what you voted for,” Larsen said.
“This is the TBD dollars at work.”
