By Shawn Skager
The Courier-Herald
Construction and road improvements should be booming in Buckley next year, as the city continues to upgrade its infrastructure in anticipation of future development.
Among the many construction projects and road improvements slated for 2006, according to the city's budget, are: the wastewater treatment plant upgrade; improvements to Ryan Road and Main Street; improvements to the city's sidewalks; and construction of a youth center.
The sewer plant upgrade will kick off with the construction of the Dewatering Building.
The Buckley City Council voted to award the construction contract for the dewatering building to IMCO Construction in November. The cost will be $925,585 and will allow the city to put in place the biosolid belt filter press into operation. The press will allow the city to dispose of the solid waste contained in sewer water more efficiently.
Construction on the dewatering building is expected to begin in January and is scheduled for completion in April.
Additional work on the upgrade to the remaining elements of the treatment plant upgrade will commence when funding is secured.
Currently the city has a $7 million loan tentatively approved, and awaiting the go-ahead from the state Legislature.
In addition, according to Buckley City Administrator Dave Schmidt, the Washington State Department of Social and Health Services has $3.9 million allocated in Gov. Christine Gregoire's budget for the Rainier School's contribution to the cost of the plant.
Total cost of the plant is expected to be more than $12 million.
The city will also move ahead on the Ryan Road and Main Street improvement plans.
Plans for the Ryan Road realignment include connecting state Route 165 and state Route 410 at a new signalized intersection.
Ryan Road and 112th Avenue will connect with state Route 165 at a signalized intersection just before the SR 410 and SR 165 intersection.
River Avenue will be extended to connect with Pearl Avenue at a T intersection and continue to another T intersection with Ryan Road, just before the Ryan, 112th Avenue and SR 165 intersection.
Plans for Main Street include improvements to existing sidewalks and the road itself. The plan calls for sidewalks to be increased from 8 feet to 10 feet in width. A 6-inch curb will divide the sidewalk from a parking strip and two 12-foot lanes for vehicle traffic.
The city has already relieved Transportation Improvement Board grants for the projects, one for Main Street in the amount of $445,000 and $500,000 for Ryan Road.
The city has appropriated $845,000 for the reconstruction of Ryan Road, plus $60,000 for professional services related to the project. For the Main Street project $650,000 has been allocated in the budget, with an additional $71,000 set aside for professional services.
The project is expected to go out to bid sometime after the first of the year.
Buckley will also begin replacement of several of the city's sidewalks this winter, based on the degree of degradation of the sidewalk.
The city's public works department graded the city's sidewalks, from A to C, with A being the sidewalks most in need of repair.
The city has allocated $50,000 toward sidewalk repair, with sidewalks classified A and B expected to be repaired this year.
Shawn Skager can be reached at sskager@courierherald.com.
