The new Razor Clam Bridge supported its first public gathering, a fire engine, several bikes and then its first car traffic on Monday when the city of Ocean Shores celebrated the replacement of the old wooden structure with the five pre-cast concrete girders that span about 120 feet in length over the canal below.

The grand opening of the bridge reunites the neighborhood at the southern end of the Ocean Shores peninsula after the old structure was closed in 2012 because of structural deficiencies.

Public Works Director Nick Bird noted the construction of the new structure was completed in less than a year, starting last June, and including a four-month shutdown caused by inclement weather.

“Many of you in the neighborhood know this bridge has been out of service for a number of years,” Bird said on Monday before the ribbon was cut by Mayor Crystal Dingler.

“One of the important things to remember about this bridge is that it was entirely funded,” Dingler said, noting the bridge was completed without any cost overruns or additional costs to the city. “I really appreciate the work that folks have done on this.”

The city was authorized to replace the bridge under a Washington State Department of Transportation grant, and design and permitting activities were completed in 2016.

After a bidding process, the low bidder was Cascade Bridge LLC from Vancouver, WA, in a $3.6 million project that was granted Federal Bridge Replacement funds.

“They powered through tearing down the structure and getting the majority of the new structure up prior to a winter shutdown,” Bird said of Cascade Bridge’s work effort.

“Once the contractor got back on site, they really got to it and ran with it. I’m amazed at how well Cascade Bridge has performed throughout this contract.”

Bird lauded the company for working with homeowners in the neighborhood to lessen impacts from construction.

“Thank you for both putting up with us and Cascade Bridge,” Bird said to about two dozen people who were in attendance. The celebration also included City Council members Susan Conniry, Steve Ensley, and Holly Plackett, as well as Police Chief Neccie Logan and Finance Director Angela Folkers.

An Ocean Shores Fire Engine also was the ceremonial first vehicle to cross the new bridge.

Dingler thanked Bird for taking over the project “late in the game when we lost an employee. so it’s been his baby for wrapping it up this year.”

“I appreciate WSDOT, all of the contractors and the folks who built this absolutely gorgeous bridge.”

Playtime project

Work has begun under a City Council approved limited public works contract to remove the old gravel and replace it with new gravel along Point Brown Avenue in from the Playtime Family Fun Center. Rognlins Inc. was the low bidder for the project at $13,872.

“For the past four-plus year, the adjacent property owner (Playtime’s Mike Doolittle) has assisted in maintaining the gravel area within the right of way for customer parking. … The gravel has resulted in poor drainage and muddy conditions when wet and very dusty conditions when dry,” the council was told as part of the agenda bill that passed 5-2 on May 14.

Bird said the work was not previously planned for because of discussions about long-term changes for sidewalks and bike lanes along Point Brown.

“We know that any improvements that are going to occur on Point Brown are not occur until 2020 at the earliest,” he said. The city is responsible for the right of way, which is the gravel alongside the roadway, and this “property in particular is one that has numerous issues associated with mud and dust,” Bird said.

The project is to remove 3 inches of the old gravel and replace it with new gravel to provide better drainage.

“I don’t see that as an unreasonable expense given the circumstances we are dealing with,” Bird said, acknowledging that it “does create a slippery slope” in providing the work in front of a private business.

“The No. 1 justification we have is that this adjacent property owner has put in a lot of work maintaining that property, and so it behooves us to continue to support improvements that they are trying to make as well as trying to make our city look good,” Bird told the council.

Doolittle explained the problem goes back to the 1960s when the city was first designed, and he took over the business and the problem about eight years ago when he saw the potential to revive what was then a troubled enterprise.

“So I began the maintenance problem myself,” Doolittle said, noting he first brought in 40 yards of gravel and added all the way to the city right of way. The goal was to eliminate potholes that would occur, but now water nearly runs into the business because of poor drainage, and the buildup of dust and mud has become another problem. “It’s the dust in the summer, and the mud in the winter,” Doolittle said.

Bird said the contract calls for finer rock to be installed, which will mitigate dust and pack well as a walking surface, and he expects the fix to last about two years.

The two City Council members to vote against the project were Susan Conniry and Jon Martin.

“I am concerned we are opening the door for many others to stand in line,” Conniry said.

Martin added: “There have been many businesses on Point Brown that have issues.”

In supporting the project, Council member Holly Plackett said: “This is city property and we have a responsibility as a city to maintain it or keep it as maintained as possible. I certainly think the city has an important partnership with all businesses to keep our businesses running well. We are a tourist community and that is a busy part of town, and certainly a very important business for our tourism.”

Council members Steve Ensley, Susan Conniry, Holy Plackett and Public Works Director Nick Bird, right, join Mayor Crystal Dingler, second from left, at the ceremony for the new Razor Clam Bridge on Monday.