Just like in the Midwest where the two seasons are winter and construction, the same applies to the Grays Harbor County area. Just substitute the snow for rain.

Aberdeen City Engineer Nick Bird explained to The Daily World on Tuesday, June 7, why the estimated six-month “Downtown Aberdeen Revitilization Traffic Improvement Project” roundabout construction needed to happen now at the intersection at East Market Street, F Street, and Fuller Way, the one-way street that runs west from the Wishkah Street Bridge.

“The reality is when you’re constructing roadways, roadway construction cannot occur in the rain,” Bird said. “You have to let the sub-base dry out. You cannot put asphalt down in the rain, so you have to have some reasonable weather to work with. It is Western Washington. That’s part of the challenge of what we deal with.”

The good news is that the project, which started April 18, has happened so far without a hitch. The project is now expected to be completed in September.

“Things are actually going really great on this project,” Bird said. “We’re ahead of schedule, and we are anticipating the full closure of the (East) Market (Street) and F Street intersection for next Wednesday, (June 15.)”

The intersection was originally scheduled to close between early to mid-July.

While the project is weeks ahead of schedule, the intersection won’t close until after the last day of school, which is June 14. It will remain closed through the end of the project, according to city documents.

“That’s the No. 1 reason why we are waiting for (June) 15 to close the intersection,” Bird said. “The contractor is far enough ahead of schedule that we could be closing the intersection this week, but given the last day of school is next week, we thought it best to wait until after school is out to make sure we can avoid those morning and afternoon rushes associated with school traffic.”

Bird said a “bunch” of traffic control signage will be placed around the area in order to make the public aware of the detour early next week. Once the intersection is closed, the “desire and intent” is to detour traffic down East 1st Street — one block north of East Market Street.

Additionally, the existing traffic lights at the intersection of F Street and East 1st Street, and at the intersection of Market and G Streets will be “temporarily” revised to minimize traffic impacts that result from the intersection closure.

He explained how sending traffic down Market Street — before the intersection — and then redirecting them down E, D, and C Streets was not the most efficient way. Sending drivers down East 1st Street is the way to go.

Aberdeen Public Works Director Rick Sangder gave a project update at the Aberdeen City Council meeting on Wednesday, June 8, saying work is ahead of schedule and there will be a lot of signs alerting travelers who use East Market Street.

“We’ll have a lot of detour signs up,” he said via Zoom. “We think we have a good detour plan.”

As of Thursday morning, June 9, there were two traffic signs warning drivers of the East Market Street closure. One was seen across from James Grocery Store at the corner of North B Street and Randall Street, and another at the corner of East Market Street and E Street.

The current steps, as Bird explained, are how the construction team — from Rognlin’s Inc. — is focused on pouring sidewalk on the north and south sides of East Market Street on F Street, and that the curb and gutter has been installed for portions off of Market Street. And then, in the next couple days, the sidewalk will be poured in.

After the intersection closes, the construction crew will start ripping up the existing asphalt and preparing the sub-base. After the asphalt is ripped up, utility work can begin, and then the sub-grade will be laid down. Then, the rest of the curb and gutter will go in, and the crew will pour the sidewalks.

“I do not see any delays,” Bird said. “I think once we’re able to rip up the asphalt on Market, and knock out the rest of the utility work, it should be smooth sailing. Generally speaking, when you’re dealing in the construction world, the biggest question mark and uncertainty is what you’re going to encounter below the ground.”

One concern Bird has for the project is the pedestrians who walk through the area. He wants them to be mindful and walk around the outside of the construction zone if at all reasonably possible. The large construction vehicles and the grounds throughout the zone are not intended for regular pedestrian use.

“When there are pedestrians walking through the construction site, our teams aren’t always paying attention to those individuals,” he said. “They blend into the surroundings, so I really hope people can be mindful and stay out of the construction site.”

Bird said he and his staff are also trying to be mindful of the impact to local businesses, and how customers get to them.

“(We’re) making sure customer access to those adjacent businesses is provided throughout the entirety of construction,” he said. “That is something that we’re working very hard to make sure that we continue to supply.”

Bird emphasized that the project is only temporary.

“We’re trying to get through this as fast as reasonably possible,” he said. “But we are making a concerted effort to make sure we do not disrupt access to the adjacent businesses any more than we reasonably need to, to construct the improvements.”

While the roundabout is expected to be completed sometime in September, which should slow down the summer traffic around that area, Bird said the project will end up improving traffic flow.

“Removing two (traffic) signals and putting a roundabout in will dramatically change the wait time going through that intersection,” Bird said. “There will be an improvement overall in the ability of traffic to get through that section of Aberdeen.”