BELLINGHAM, Wash. — Officials with City of Bellingham Parks and Recreation said yesterday, December 5th, work is expected to begin at the pier near Little Squalicum Park. “Contractors will be removing the outer section of pier and the supply line that connects to the shore north of the park.”
The City of Bellingham recently acquired a portion of the pier through a donation last year from the Lehigh Hanson/Heidelberg Cement Group.
Lehigh Northwest Cement Company retained ownership and is responsible for demolishing 600 feet of the outer section of the pier and a supply line pipe.
The inner section of the pier transferred to the city is 1,200 feet long and 14 feet wide. Planned improvements will create a public overwater walkway said to be similar to the Taylor Dock in Fairhaven.
Click for more information
Click for more information
The city announced in November 2021 it had negotiated a no-cost transfer of the majority of the former industrial pier located at Little Squalicum Park on Bellingham Bay. It was said at the time that the city was planning to “rehabilitate” the city’s portion of the pier to make it accessible to the public.
Improvements planned, estimated to cost $4.5 million, included the following.
- removing existing treated decking
- installing new pedestrian handrails
- installing low-level solar lighting
- installing a walking surface
$1,500,000 in Greenway Levy Funds are allocated for the initial phase of work. Additional funding of $4,500,000 is proposed from Park Impact Fees in the 2023 budget. Other funding may come from state grants.
City officials say the design phase is currently underway and construction is expected to start in 2023 or 2024, pending permit approvals.