Construction has started on two major waterfront redevelopment projects.
The Granary Avenue and Laurel Street project involves building a new roadway through the site. The new roadway includes Whatcom County’s first cycle track, a physically separated bikeway allowing bicycle movement in both directions on one side of the road. Granary Avenue will access Bellingham’s waterfront from Roeder Avenue, and Laurel Street will provide a connection from Cornwall Avenue.
Whatcom County based RAM Construction was selected by the City of Bellingham as the low bidder for this $8.7 million project. Construction is expected to last about a year. Visitors to the waterfront can see orange construction fencing outlining the boundaries of the new streets.
The Waypoint Park project is also moving forward. Located at the end of Central Avenue next to the Granary Building, this one-acre waterfront park will include a new beach, playground, waterfront trail, industrial art and near shore habitat.
Whatcom County based Strider was selected by the City of Bellingham as the low bidder for this $2 million project. Construction is expected to be complete in spring 2018.
The Granary Avenue and Laurel Street project will first build the portion of Granary Avenue adjacent to Roeder Avenue to allow early access to the Granary Building and Waypoint Park. The renovation of the historic Granary Building is expected to be complete in the first half of 2018 with shops, restaurants and upper-story offices.