SUQUAMISH — No, there is not a hotel being constructed in downtown Suquamish. Nor is yet another casino or housing area planned for development there.
The Suquamish Tribe, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Kitsap County are working together to replace the community’s stormwater drainage system, said Suquamish Tribe’s Director of Community Development Scott Crowell.
Construction began in mid September and is expected to take six weeks.
Workers are replacing the old concrete drainage system on Augusta Way, from Center Street to the 90-degree road turn at the Suquamish Youth Center, where the road turns into Suquamish Way.
At the turn, new pipes will be installed to allow the water to empty into Port Madison Bay by the boat ramp.
“It’s as old as the town in some parts,” Crowell said about the current system, noting buildings along Augusta Way, including North Kitsap Fire & Rescue Station 84, are often flooded.
The plan will connect all the old lines on the west side of the road, where the water will collect into the new system and wash out into Port Madison. Oil separators will be installed, so water will be filtered prior to entering the waters, Crowell explained.
Currently, stormwater runs across the road and floods downtown buildings as it makes its way to the beach. Remnants of oil and gas from vehicles drain also into the water, he said.
The current system has 12-18-inch concrete pipes, but they are clogged and the system doesn’t work at all, said project manager Cullen Jorgensen.
The new system will have 36-inch pipes that can accommodate water drainage from Suquamish.
The stretch of pavement between center and the 90-degree turn will also be replaced with a wider road, from the current 11-foot travel lanes to 12-foot lanes.
“The road is pretty narrow now,” Crowell said.
New sidewalks will also be installed along Augusta Way, from Center Street to the youth center.
The road is currently closed to thru traffic and detour signs are posted. However, local access is allowed to businesses in downtown Suquamish.
During construction, two 500-gallon fuel tanks that were located underneath the youth center have been removed as well, Jorgensen said. A gas station was previously located on the current site of the center.
