The City of Coos Bay, in collaboration with Oregon Department of Transportation, will be constructing a street improvement project on S. Empire Blvd between Newmark Ave and Wisconsin Ave, a distance of 4,200 ft. The project includes street widening, curbs and gutters, sidewalks, storm drain improvements, and landscaping features. Some of these components would conflict with the existing water main, so the water main will be relocated prior to the start of the street project. New 12-inch and 16-inch ductile iron main will be installed the full length of the project, parallel to the existing 10-inch asbestos cement main. The new main will be installed, pressure tested, disinfected, and tested for bacterial contaminants before being placed into service. The existing main will then be abandoned in place. Except for intermittent or minor water reconnections of brief duration, no interruption of water supply will occur.
The Water Board retained The Dyer Partnership Engineers and Planners, Inc. of Coos Bay to design and administer the project through construction. The design was completed in May 2015 and advertised for bid. Bid opening occurred on June 11. Because of an error on the low bidder’s bid form, a protest to an award was received from the second low bidder. The Water Board of Directors subsequently rejected all bids and chose to rebid the project. Bid documents were reissued and readvertised for bid and rebids were received June 30. On July 2, 2015 the Water Board awarded the rebid project to Knife River Materials of Coos Bay for $1,225,227.50.
Knife River will begin work the week of July 27. Their work hours will vary, but generally will be Monday through Saturday, 7:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The project will be complete by October 31, 2015.
Traffic control will be an important part of the project. Marple Street will be utilized as a detour for northbound traffic, with southbound traffic allowed on S. Empire Boulevard in one lane. There may be variations to the traffic control as the project progresses. Please use caution at all times. There may be some traffic congestion throughout the project duration. Access to and from homes and businesses along S. Empire Boulevard and Marple Street will be maintained at all times. We will try to keep any traffic inconvenience to a minimum.