Construction, and destruction, of Second Street in Langley will start Tuesday, Jan. 21.
Work will begin on the north side of the road, the half which has the library, City Hall, South Whidbey Commons and the Star Store parking lot. On the eve of major change, Langley leaders are confident the public is both prepared and informed.
“What I’ve heard is that people realize it has to happen,” said Councilwoman Rene Neff. “The street being dug up has to happen, it’s all coming apart.”
“In the end, when it’s all said and done, hopefully it will be a really nice project and make the city better, more walkable,” she added.
Langley Director of Community Planning Jeff Arango said in an email that visitors should not expect to park on Second Street during construction, as spaces will be eliminated during work to break up the road and replace existing utilities.
The $2.2 million project is slated to last 100 working days and has a stated completion date of June 7. About $1.8
million of the project’s total price tag will be covered by federal grants. The remainder, about $420,300, will be picked up by Langley through the sale of a general obligation bond approved by the city council earlier this month.
Parking is available on all other streets, at Langley United Methodist Church’s lot on Third Street and Anthes Avenue, the Island Church of Whidbey park and ride on Cascade Avenue and along Third Street.
Arango recommended business owners and employees leave their cars at the Island Church of Whidbey park and ride lot to relieve parking needs in the downtown core.
A minimum of one lane of traffic and pedestrian access to businesses will be maintained at all times, Arango said. There will signage at the entrances to Langley stating which businesses are open during construction.
Redoing the street is a multifaceted project that aims to address public works, planning and business growth needs for Langley. City officials say failures in the street have led to sheeting, cracks and potholes on the road. Underground utilities will also be replaced.
Some parallel parking will be removed from the street on the north side of the road between Cascade and Anthes avenues. The reduction will allow for an expansion of pedestrian space, such as the sidewalk, and also for a small plaza-like area near Callahan’s Firehouse and the South Whidbey Commons.
