BATTLE GROUND — A handful of Battle Ground community members, city employees and some city officials attended an informational open house Tuesday evening to learn more about the South Parkway Improvement Project at Battle Ground City Hall.
Attendees were able to look at the plans for the project, and were also able to talk with Battle Ground Public Works Director Scott Sawyer, City Engineer Mark Herceg, Associate Civil Engineer Ryan Jeynes and Luke Williamson from Tapani Underground Inc., the company that the city contracted with for the project.
Williamson told attendees that the goal is to have the paving of the roadway done by the end of August/early September, and that they will be onsite as early as next week getting things ready. He said they are excited to begin the project.
“I’m anxious to get started and dig it (the roadway) up,” Williamson said. “I’m curious to see what’s under there. Back in the day, people used to just shove whatever under the roadway to fill it, old logs, etc. In my opinion, I’m thinking that might be what we find under there.”
Williamson said they hope to have the project completed in about seven to eight months, and acknowledged that there are things that might speed that timeline up or slow it down.
As far as traffic congestion during construction of South Parkway is concerned, Sawyer said they plan to keep the roadway open, although they will sometimes probably go down to one lane. He said they wanted to make sure to keep the roadway open, especially for the small businesses along South Parkway like the I Q Mini-Mart.
“We will be encouraging people who aren’t local traffic to maybe go around, but the road will be open during construction,” Sawyer said.
The $5.6 million long-awaited South Parkway Improvement Project addresses two different sections of South Parkway. Section A, between Eaton and Rasmussen boulevards, requires complete reconstruction to remove its failing base. Once completed, the project will feature sidewalks, ADA ramp upgrades, planter strips, bike lanes, lighting, a travel lane in each direction and a center left-turn lane. An upgrade to the water and sewer utility infrastructure will also be a part of construction activities.
Section B of the project, between Main Street and Rasmussen Boulevard, the contractor will use a process referred to as “mill and fill” in which the top several inches of asphalt is removed before adding a new layer. Sidewalk ADA ramps will be upgraded as well as some utilities infrastructure.
According to the city of Battle Ground’s website, principal funding for the project comes from a Washington State Transportation Improvement Board grant of $3.9 million. Funds in the amount of $65,000 from the Battle Ground Transportation Benefit District (TBD) funding, citizen-paid vehicle tabs, is being used as a match to leverage an additional TIB grant of $366,000. Project funding is also further supplemented by city of Battle Ground Traffic Impact Fees and utility funds.
For additional details on the South Parkway Improvement Project and to see updates on the project, visit http://www.cityofbg.org/s-parkway.
