PORT OF FRIDAY HARBOR

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Stories about Port of Friday Harbor

Difficult project creates easy turn-around

State, county, port, town officials and staff; contractors and designers celebrated the completion of the Front Street Turnaround project at the October 20, 2003 ribbon cutting ceremony.

posted 10/22/03
One of the more difficult projects tackled by the Port of Friday Harbor is complete except for the finishing touches of landscaping. The Front Street Turnaround project was a joint venture of the county, port and town. It was largely financed by a $350,000 federal grant.

Before the project could begin, UnoCal cleaned up contaminated soil. The discovery of more contaminated soil not connected to UnoCal was one of the hurdles the contractors and port had to deal with.

Working through the peak of the tourism season was another challenge. The project was originally slated to be completed before the summer season, but delays in permitting set the project back.

Port Commissioners were so impressed with the way the port staff handled the customers during the construction, they dug into their pockets. Last month, they paid for a massage therapist to give everyone on staff a massage.

More contamination found in soil

posted 07/08/03
The Front Street Turnaround project can continue while OPALCO conducts tests on some contaminated soil according to Friday Harbor Port Auditor Marilyn O'Connor.

Last week, some diesel oil was found on property which belongs to the Town of Friday Harbor. Because there is a possibility the oil came from the former site of Orcas Power and Light Cooperative's diesel generating plant, OPALCO agreed to conduct tests.

O'Connor said the contractor will be able to work around the contaminated area while the tests are conducted. She doesn't expect the project to be delayed.

Before the project began, Unocal cleaned up contamination from its former gas storage area.

Port project underway

posted 06/19/03
The earth is moving at the Port of Friday Harbor as Mike Carlson Enterprises begins the task of building a vehicle turnaround and pedestrian improvements on Front Street near the port offices. The project is expected to last most of the summer.

The contractor will be working on weekdays, and drivers can expect delays of up to 15 minutes getting through the construction area to parking lots. Pedestrians will be directed around the work area by means of fencing and signs. If you are coming to the marina area, please consider parking up-town, as it may be faster to walk. Customers of the Port who will be away on boats for extended periods are invited to use the parking lot near the airport (formerly Mark 'n Pak). If you need a ride to the marina from that location, please call the Port office at 378-2688 for assistance. Unloading and dropping off passengers can be done near the fuel pier.

This project is sponsored by the Town and Port of Friday Harbor and administered by San Juan County. The cost of the project is approximately $350,000. The construction is primarily paid for with a federal grant from the "T21 Funds", which are appropriated by Congress and passed on to states for local transportation enhancement projects. The Port paid for early design and environmental permits, and will pay 13.5% of the construction costs as a "match" to the federal funds.

Unocal cleanup update

By Sharon Kivisto

posted 10/29/02
More than 1600 tons of "dirty dirt" has been removed from the old Unocal site on Front Street in Friday Harbor, according to Port Auditor Marilyn O'Connor. The original estimate was 1200 tons total would be removed. There is still 30 to 40 percent left to do. The dirt is trucked to Everett where it is burned in an asphalt plant and then trucked to a landfill. The hole was 30 feet deep last Wednesday, October 23, 2002.

The designer working on the turnaround design had come up with some new options, O'Connor said. The commissioner viewed several sketches at their October 23 meeting. One sketch had the turnaround extending into the Unocal property with several parking spaces. O'Connor said one option would be to trade the remaining Unocal property to the town for the piece of Front Street it owns in front of the San Juan Island Yacht Club. If the port owned the town's portion, it could construct a building there in the future creating a more campus-like area.

The commissioners did not like the idea. Commissioner Mike Ahrenius said, "I'm not interested in giving up on that parcel. I don’t think pushing the turnaround in there is beneficial in the long run. Taking out parking spaces and trading with the town is a step backward."

Commissioner Brian Calvert didn't like "taking a piece of property and turning it into driveway." He suggested a basement laundry and storage facility could be part of a building on the Unocal site.

Commissioner Greg Hertel said the port should be flexible with the building design and should look for an anchor tenant. He noted, " It is going to be highly visible. If we do it on our own, we won’t have anyone else to blame"

Work on the turnaround is expected to begin in March 2003. The port will continue to look at options for buildings for the Unocal site.

Cleanup underway at Unocal site

posted 10/01/02
Crews began tearing down the wall at the former Unocal site on Front Street in Friday Harbor today, Tuesday, October 1, 2002. The property belongs to the Port of Friday Harbor but Unocal is responsible for the cleanup. Plans for the site are up in the air since Friday Harbor House decided not to go ahead with expansion plans.

Port of Friday Harbor
plans traffic congestion relief

By Matt Pranger

posted 03/24/00

Currently trucks must back down the drive to the upper parking lot to turn around.

"We are very concerned about one of those trucks running over someone," says Port Auditor Marilyn O’Connor.

Port staff unrolled a possible solution to the bottleneck at the Port Commission’s March 22 meeting. According to an architect’s sketches, a 110-foot diameter turnaround circle will accommodate the long trucks. Pedestrian traffic will be separated from vehicles. A bus lane will be added.

"It doesn’t give an emergency exit, but it will improve the traffic flow," says of the plan.

The port’s flag pole may be moved uphill to an area below the American Legion Club, where a veterans’ memorial is envisioned. The Legion is being asked to help with the project. That area would also provide better access to steps leading up to First Street. "We’re all in favor of getting people up to the stairs more easily," O’Connor says.

She roughly estimated the initial phase of the project will cost $300,000. The port is asking the Town of Friday Harbor to place the project on its Six-Year Road Plan. The port will also be asking the San Juan County to dedicate federal transportation funds it receives to the project. Port, county and town representatives, including the port’s engineers, will be meeting to discuss the project.

The town’s approval will be crucial, since it owns the Front Street right of way. "We’re trying to come up with a project the Town would be interested in supporting," O’Connor says.

If all the jurisdictions agree and funding is available, work would begin in 2001. "Under the best scenario we would start construction one year from now," O’Connor says.

A gate and key system is also planned for the future for the people who pay for using the lot. "It’s a way to provide access just for marina tenants," O’Connor says.

Relocating the U.S. Customs office into a new building is also being considered for the area opposite and uphill of the marina park’s fountain. Such a move would free up space for Customs and the Port’s maintenance shop. Both are currently located under the San Juan Island Yacht Club.

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