City manager outlines upcoming WSDOT ramp closures, water main repairs, reservoir upgrades and community events

City Manager Jesse Bonham told the council on Sept. 16 that the city has been communicating an imminent Washington State Department of Transportation closure and other infrastructure work and community events.

Bonham said WSDOT will begin closing eastbound ramps around 8 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 18, to replace an identified failing expansion joint, and that the closure will reduce eastbound access to a single ramp for much of the work. "This is going to be a major impact to our community and to eastbound travel," Bonham said; he said the city has been running a communications campaign and will continue to update residents as conditions change.

On a separate project, Bonham reported that work to replace a damaged water main on East Mercer Way near Clark Beach Park is substantially complete. Staff completed flushing and testing, restored normal service to homes that had been supplied by temporary service (about five homes) and plan to repave roughly 250 feet of damaged pavement in the southbound lane. "We hope to have everything back to normal by October," Bonham said.

Bonham also highlighted completion of a four‑year reinvestment program at the City’s water reservoir, including a booster chlorination station, a replaced emergency generator and electrical panels, tank recoating, new stairs and safety railings, five replaced main pumps and two new jockey pumps. He said those upgrades are typical on a 20‑year lifecycle and thanked public works staff for completing the work.

Bonham noted a PSE Green Power Challenge success: the city exceeded its goal of 100 new signups with 108 and will receive a $10,000 grant toward a community solar project; the city will identify the specific project in coming months. He also reminded residents of a community mobile blood drive Sept. 29–30 and Town Center trick‑or‑treating Oct. 31 from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Bonham said staff will present a capital program snapshot and a public works capital update at the council's October meeting.