Bellingham’s Boulevard Park, built nearly 40 years ago, is getting new water, sewer, power, and telecommunication services in summer 2019. A damaged wood overpass at the north end of the park will also be removed. This aging structure currently supports all utilities into the park.
“New underground utilities will be installed in Bayview Drive up to State Street, resulting in predictable services to the park for decades to come,” said Leslie Bryson, Bellingham’s Park and Recreation Director. “The City asks for everyone’s patience while contractors move around the site with large equipment.”
Contractors will start setting up on site in late April, which will likely impact access into the Park along Bayview Drive. Once work is in full swing, the main entrance into the park will be closed intermittently for the safety of the public while contractors work under and around the railroad mainline.
Access to the Park will be possible using the South Bay Trail from downtown or from Taylor Dock. Local residences will be provided access on Bayview Drive and 10th Street. Please expect delays during construction.
Completing excavation and trenching work during the drier spring and summer months will help the contractor focus on the work at hand and will mitigate delays due to inclement weather. This will result in an overall shorter project duration and minimize impacts to park users. Flaggers will be on site and signs will be posted to direct traffic around the area. The South Bay Trail will also be closed intermittently to allow a crane to safely remove the overpass structure.
The project is expected to be complete by September of 2019, weather pending. Please check the Bellingham Parks and Recreation Facebook page for project updates.