Well, it’s “round,” and it’s “about” (amateur guess-timate) 33% on the way . . .

rounda nov 11 web

. . . to looking like this:

roundabout modelNEW web

Watch this site for a Friends of the Roundabout contest, coming soon!

Daily World’s Jilian Beaudry writes up last night’s meeting:

OCEAN SHORES — Driving through Ocean Shores is like driving on Mars.

The terrain is uneven, bumping drivers and passengers along at 15 mph while trying to avoid running into large orange traffic cones and yellow tape.

“It looks horrendous,” one angry homeowner shouted at a town hall meeting with the city at the Convention Center Wednesday night.

Last night, a “Town Hall” meeting on the Roundabout and Street LID construction projects was held at the Convention Center (NBCTV was there taping, so look for it on Channel 68). Mayor Dean Bunkers and Ken Lanfear, director of Public Works, sat at the front of the room and fielded questions from the 40 representatives of businesses and citizens in attendance. Leslie Reedy, director of the local Chamber of Commerce, began the Town Hall by saying “I called this because I was bombarded with calls.” She cited some of the biggest frustrations she is hearing:  “a lack of communication, and that the average that everyone is down (in sales) is 30 percent. And a lack of real visible signage that directs people.”

“I understand some of the frustrations and aggravations,” Mayor Bunkers responded. “But if we didn’t get this done this year and had to drag into next year the pain would be much worse.”

After what appeared to be initial reluctance, business people eventually shared their issues. Representatives alike from big businesses like the IGA and McDonald’s and small shops such as First Cabin and Sand Castle Drive In (owner Dave Creighton, who as a city councilman you might think would be informed), made similar complaints about a lack of coordination, communication of water outages and advance notice of paving that blocks business access.

Regarding communications: “I’m the guy who needs to take a hit,” said Lanfear. “I have to apologize if there’s been coordination problems out there, they have to fall back on me.”

He said the Street LID could be done by Oct. 23. “The Roundabout completion was (originally) mid November. We’re still tracking pretty well.”

More in next week’s North Coast News.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Scheduled Work:
Rogniln’s Inc. will be working in the Pt. Brown Avenue / Chance a la
Mer project area on Wednesday, September 23, 2009. Due to the location
of the work, there will be the following closures:
1. MORNING: The southbound lanes on Pt. Brown Avenue
from Chance a la Mer to J.K. Lewis Street.
2. AFTERNOON: The eastbound lanes of Chance a la Mer
from Minard Avenue to Pt. Brown Avenue.
Detour signs are posted for alternative routes

Pt. Brown Avenue / Chance a la Mer Improvements Project Work Schedule
Monday, September 21, 2009
Scheduled Work:
Rogniln’s Inc. will be working in the Pt. Brown Avenue / Chance a la
Mer project area on Monday, September 21, 2009. Due to the location of
the work, the eastbound and westbound lanes of Chance a la Mer will be
closed between Seahorse Avenue and Pt. Brown Avenue. Detour signs
are posted for alternative routes.

You’re driving east on Chance a la Mer, and come to the “old four-way.” You need gas. How do you get to the Shell station, just across the street?

roundabout well digger web

Bad News: Rognlin’s hit a water main this afternoon, on Roundabout construction, cutting off water to businesses in the area.

Good News: They quickly repaired it. Water is back on.

Construction crews start ripping up the asphalt on Chance a la Mer just west of “the old four-way” (R.I.P.)

chance tear up web

“Is it true that ‘they’ got a  grant to put a roller rink or skateboard ramp inside the Roundabout?”

“I heard that, instead of crosswalks, they’re going to have pedestrian bridges.”

“Someone told me that they’re piping water out of a previously unknown underground water well that they’re calling Lake Lanfear.”

“We don’t have to pay for all this, right?”

Pt. Brown Avenue / Chance a la Mer Improvements Project Work Schedule
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Scheduled Work:
Rogniln’s Inc. will be working in the Pt. Brown Avenue / Chance a la Mer intersection on Wednesday, September 9, 2009. Due to the location of the work, this intersection will be closed. Detour signs are posted for alternative routes.
The Contractor will also be working on Chance a la Mer. However, one lane will remain open at all times for business access.