By Scott D. Johnston

For the Grays Harbor News Group

After turning them down two weeks earlier, the Ocean Shores City Council approved repairs two pedestrian sidewalk bridges that have been closed for years at its Dec. 9 meeting. The bridges are on East Chance a la Mer Boulevard and on Albatross Street — just west of North Bay Park.

The work will be done through a pair of maintenance agreements with the Washington State Department of Transportation. Cost on the Albatross project is estimated at $34,660, plus a 25% contingency, bringing the total to $43,325. The numbers for the Chance a la Mer project are $34,276 estimated and $42,845 with the contingency.

In information prepared for the council’s consideration, City Public Works Director Nick Bird wrote that “At the Nov. 25 council meeting, staff was asked to validate the necessity of conducting sidewalk repairs to the Albatross Street timber structure. Upon review of the photos under the structure, it was apparent that the ancillary benefit of conducting the work was/is to retain support for an existing 12-inch water line under the sidewalk. Both the water line and sidewalk use the same support members as shown in the attached photos.

“Conducting any alternate repair or modification approaches will result in an expense that is significantly higher than the current proposal of repairing the existing deficiencies.”

On the Chance repairs, Bird wrote, “Unfortunately, this structure differs from the Albatross Street bridge as the existing 10-inch water line is located on the southern side of the structure and the sidewalk is on the northern side of the structure. The sidewalk blocking does support two 2-inch PVC conduits, presumed to be for communication.

“In considering alternative approaches, specifically the desire to eliminate the timber sidewalk, any alteration, repair or modification will result in an expense that is significantly higher than the current proposal of repairing the existing deficiencies. Given the use of interlocal forces is the most cost-effective means to mitigate the existing deficiencies, staff still recommends repairing the structure.”

Bird told The North Coast News that WSDOT has some bridge repair teams that do this type of project, and that the state essentially bills the work at cost, resulting in a significant savings to the city.

Estimates by WSDOT on both projects call for a nine-person crew to be on-site for one week. Bird indicated the Albatross project will likely be done first. He estimated that both repair projects would be done sometime in the first quarter of 2020.

Photo by Scott D. Johnston The Ocean Shores City Council has approved repairing the Albatross Street pedestrian bridge, above, just west of North Bay Park in Ocean Shores, and the E. Chance a la Mer pedestrian bridge.