The City Council Monday awarded a contract to SRV Construction of Oak Harbor for the new roundabout. The bid came in at $918,000, considerably less than the $1.4 million price tag which city engineers estimated the cost would be, according to City Public Works Director Fred Buckenmeyer.
Buckenmeyer said roughly half the cost of the roundabout, about $540,000, will be paid by the state Transportation Department.
Buckenmeyer told the Council that the contract is for 30 work days and that the contractor has an incentive to finish early. Buckenmeyer said the contractor will be paid an additional $2,500 for every day they finish early. But, if they finish late, they will be penalized $4,700 per day.
Council members generally acknowledged that July isn’t the best time to disrupt the main street into town, but the price is right. Nick Petrish said “the timing is poor, but, given the cost, hopefully the citizens will be minimally inconvenienced.”
Council member Bill Turner said “This will be great for Anacortes.” He added “I feel the pain” of those businesses at the south end of Commercial who may suffer because of less traffic during a popular tourist month.
Buckenmeyer said the construction detour will be well signed. Traffic will be diverted onto R Ave. south of 32nd St. There will be a temporary traffic light at R and 32nd to allow town-bound motorists to get back onto Commercial at 32nd.