Beach Drive culvert scheduled for replacement

Here’s a piece of good news for Camano Island’s Country Club residents: Beach Drive, which was closed by a sinkhole in February, should be reopened to traffic this autumn.

Island County Public Works’ Surface Water Management division held an open house at the Camano Country Clubhouse Thursday night to present their repair plans to the public.

Phil Cohen, surface water manager, said the county will replace the failed culvert with one of the same size and shape. This option makes the most sense in terms of permitting cost and efforts.

“If we replace same with same,” Cohen said, “it’s considered maintenance, and the permitting requirements and costs are minimal.”

To replace with something different, though, triggers additional permitting requirements and fees, a “huge effort.”

Public Works has retained Harmsen and Associates, Inc., out of Monroe, to design the project and prepare the contract documents.

Cohen said they have received “the nod” for expedited permits from the various agencies involved, and if all goes well, the project should go to bid in August.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin the end of September, and should be wrapped up by mid October.

The project will cost the county about $150,000, Cohen said; $45,000 for engineering and design costs, and around $100,000 for construction, paid for with the road fund.

“So far,” he added, “the public opinion we’ve heard has been, ‘let’s get this thing opened.’ That’s what we’re trying to do.”

Staff Reporter Jeremiah O’Hagan: 629-8066 ext. 125 or ohagan@scnews.com.