Busy road in Gig Harbor to close for 2 years as crews install sewer, roundabout
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- City of Gig Harbor will close parts of 38th Avenue for two years for construction.
- $12 million covers design, permitting, right-of-way and construction costs.
- The city plans detours and encourages drivers to be prepared.
Buckle up, Gig Harbor: construction of a roundabout, a sewer line extension and other roadway improvements is expected to close parts of 38th Avenue for the next two years.
The city posted a reminder about the upcoming closures on social media March 5.
“We are very sorry, in advance, for the disruption this will cause,” the city wrote. “But we need to start talking about it so you can get prepared.”
Construction is expected to begin this spring on 38th Avenue between 56th Street and Hunt Street, and wrap up next winter. A list of FAQs said that the city plans “to award the construction contract by the end of April so work can start right away.”
The project doesn’t have an exact start date yet and public works staff have yet to award a contract, Gig Harbor city spokesperson Lori Maricle wrote in a text message Monday.
The project will replace an aging traffic signal with a roundabout at 56th Street and 38th Avenue, according to the city website and biennial budget for 2025-2026.
“A roundabout would eventually be required, so instead of replacing the signal now and then building a roundabout later, we’re going straight to the long-term solution,” the city website says. “This avoids two disruptive construction projects, keeps traffic moving more safely, and saves taxpayer dollars by only paying for one project.”
The city performed a traffic impact analysis which supported the need for a roundabout at the intersection, according to the biennial budget.
Crews will also add bike lanes, a sidewalk, a planter strip, new curb and gutters and other improvements to the roadway, according to The News Tribune’s reporting during the design process. Two new pedestrian crosswalks are slated to include flashing beacons, according to the city’s website, and a new gravity-fed sewer line will upgrade the city’s stormwater and utility infrastructure.
The total budget for the project is about $12 million, covering design, permitting, right-of-way and construction costs. That sum includes the full amount the city requested from the state Transportation Improvement Board (about $2.4 million), as well as sewer capital ($1.7 million) and revenue from the Transportation Benefit District ($6.2 million) and transportation impact fees ($1.75 million). The city’s Capital Improvement Projects website says that Puget Sound Energy is also expected to contribute an amount to be determined.
During the closure, the city is directing travelers to take a detour around the closed roadway. Drivers can take Wollochet Drive, Kimball Drive and Soundview Drive. The city is also planning additional detours and will post them on the project’s web page, the city’s website says.
The city began planning improvements to 38th Avenue as early as 2008, when staff listed it in the budget. The city’s consultant performed geotechnical drilling at the site in 2022, The News Tribune reported.
The road won’t be completely blocked off for the next two years. Crews will close all lanes while installing the sewer lines and potentially during some of the roundabout construction, but other times drivers will be able to pass through via one-way alternating lanes, the city’s website says.
The city is working to acquire the land needed for the new roundabout while utility service providers relocate their lines, the website says. Residents who live near the closure site will continue to have their garbage picked up, and the city is working to ensure that emergency access remains constant and that school buses can adjust their routes as necessary, according to the website.
The city plans to host an open house for the public this spring and encourages residents to sign up for email or text alerts through their Notify Me service.
