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Upper Buckley Project

Current Project Updates

 

October 6, 2023: In the coming weeks the Northwest will begin planting trees and shrubs in the Gulch. The Landscape company is just waiting for more rain before planting. This will ensure proper hydration of the ground and the best possibility for the trees and plants survivability.  

 

For specific questions or concerns please contact:

Past Project Updates

July 28, 2023: During the week of July 24, 2023 Northwest placed the project on suspension until the fall planting window. There may be misc. punchlist items completed between now and then for signage, striping, path widening adjacent bollards etc.

 

July 21, 2023: During the week of July 17, 2023, Northwest installed bollard bases at the entrance to the trail on N.16th. Additionally, Northwest placed orange construction fencing to protect the topsoil around the trail area on N.16th until the fall. The trail is still and will remain accessible. 

 

July 14, 2023: During the week of July 10, 2023, Northwest finished installation of topsoil and mulch throughout the gulch area and along N.16th Street. Northwest also installed biodegradable erosion control blankets on the gulch slope itself and fencing adjacent the gulch planting areas to protect them until the fall. 

 

July 7, 2023: During the week of July 3, 2023, Northwest continued installation of topsoil and mulch throughout the gulch area and along N.16th Street

 

June 30, 2023: During the week of June 26, 2023, Northwest installed a split rail fence along the leading edge of the slope to the gulch. Additionally, Northwest continued to place topsoil and mulch.   

 

June 23, 2023: During the week of June 19, 2023, Northwest removed the left wing of the ramp on N. Junett at N. 16th St. Northwest then paved back the entrance to the trail flush with the roadway. And finally, Northwest installed irrigation lines for the gulch and trail area.

 

 June 16, 2023: During the week of June 12, 2023, Northwest continued to clean the site while procuring materials for the landscape restoration.

 

June 9, 2023: During the week of June 5, 2023, Northwest cleaned the site while procuring tree’s for the landscape restoration.       

 

May 25, 2023: During the week of May 22, 2023, Northwest began working on landscaping and placing sod throughout the site.      

 

May 19, 2023: During the week of May 15, 2023, Northwest removed the approach to the garden driveway in preparation to lessen the grade entering the garden. Additionally, Northwest worked on restoring the irrigation to the landscape in front of the garden. Finally, the landscape that was slated for this week was placed on hold due to the heat.      
For the week of May 22, Northwest Cascade plans to begin landscaping the project. Additionally, Northwest is planning to pave back the asphalt driveway entrance.  

 

May 12, 2023: During the week of May 8, 2023, Northwest repaired the community garden fence and installed the new front gates. Additionally, Northwest continued to prepare for landscape restoration.   

 

May 5, 2023: During the week of May 1, 2023, Northwest cored and installed davit arm receivers for the vault entry hatches. Additionally, Northwest worked on property restoration and landscape preparation.      

 

April 28, 2023: During the week of April 24, 2023, Northwest finished cleaning the stormwater filtration vault and installed all of the filter cartridges.     

 

 April 21, 2023: During the week of April 17, 2023, Northwest raised manholes and valve casings as well as worked on preparing the filtration vault for filters.

 

April 14, 2023: During the week of April 6, 2023, Northwest paved N Junett from N 15th St to N 16th St, as well as N 16thg St from N Junett to Pine St.    

 

April 3, 2023: During the week of April 6, 2023, Northwest performed irrigation restoration and prepared the subgrade for landscape restorations.   

 

March 27, 2023: During the week of March 31, 2023, Northwest poured the concrete roadway on N Junett from N 14th St to N 15th St.  

 

March 24, 2023: During the week of March 20, 2023, Northwest continued to grade for roadway restoration and poured concrete curb.

 

March 17, 2023: During the week of March 13, 2023, Northwest continued to grade for roadway restoration.

 

March 10, 2023: During the week of March 6, 2023, Northwest continued grading in advance of upcoming street paving. They also completed installation of an irrigation line intended for maintenance of replanted vegetation around the top of the gulch.

 

March 3, 2023: During the week of February 27, 2023, Northwest has fully removed all pavement throughout the site in preparation for roadway restoration.

 

February 24, 2023: During the week of February 20, 2023, Northwest completed backfilling the gulch as well as water main work though the Gulch. Additionally, Northwest worked on grading in preparation for roadway restoration work.   

 

February 17, 2023: During the week of February 13, 2023 Northwest Cascade continued pouring curb ramps throughout the site and progressed the subgrade preparation on N Junett Street, between N 14th St and N 15th St, in advance of roadway paving. Northwest also began to backfill soil into the gulch to remove the temporary access road needed for construction and begin to reestablish the slope.

 

February 17, 2023: During the week of February 13, 2023 Northwest Cascade continued pouring curb ramps throughout the site and progressed the subgrade preparation on N Junett Street, between N 14th St and N 15th St, in advance of roadway paving. Northwest also began to backfill soil into the gulch to remove the temporary access road needed for construction and begin to reestablish the slope.

 

February 10, 2023: During the week of February 6, 2023, Northwest Cascade formed and poured curb and curb ramps throughout the site. Northwest also worked on preparing the subgrade to begin placing roadway on Junett from N 14th St to N 15th St. 

 

February 3, 2023: During the week of January 30, 2023, Northwest Cascade worked on cleaning the Storm Water Filtration Vault as well as continuing to test and inspect the new storm mains on the project. Northwest also removed sidewalk and performed grading for new ADA curb ramps throughout the project.  

 

January 27, 2023: During the week of January 23, 2023, Northwest Cascade installed water crossings at the intersection of N. 14th St. & N. Junett St. as well as N. 15th St. & N. Junett St. Northwest also performed leak and video inspection of sewer and storm pipes within the project.

 

January 20, 2023: During the week of January 16, 2023, Northwest Cascade completed placing the storm drainage catch basins in the intersections of N 14th St & N Junett St as well as N 15th St & N Junett St. Additionally, Northwest continued work on the storm drainage in the alley between N 15th St and the community garden.

 

January 13, 2023: During the week of January 9, 2023, Northwest Cascade has completed connecting the black stormwater pipe from N 14th Street to the bottom of the Gulch. The storm water system is reconnected and the bypass system has been removed.  

 

January 6, 2023: During the week of January 2, 2023, Northwest Cascade has connected all stormwater manholes from the stormwater treatment vault, down to the bottom of the gulch. The contractor has also connected all pipes storm water manholes from N 14th St to the N 15th St. The only remaining section to be connected is from are from N 15th St to the manhole set at the south eastern corner of the stormwater treatment vault.

 

December 30, 2022: During the week of December 26, 2022, Northwest Cascade installed the concrete manhole at the northeast corner of the Stormwater Filtration Facility. The contractor continued installing the large black stormwater pipe south of the treatment vault, along N Junett Street.

 

December 23, 2022: During the week of December 19, 2022, Northwest Cascade completed backfilling around the Stormwater Filtration Facility. All the engineered shoring has been removed. There will be excavation activities at a later date when the contractor connects the 48” Duramaxx pipe to the Stormwater Filtration Facility. The second crew completed placing the 48” Duramaxx pipe between N 15th St and N 14th St and associated MH. Northwest also removed an additional tree in the Gulch that presented a falling hazard and could have damaged power lines. This tree will be replaced in the Landscape Restoration Plan of the Gulch.  

 

December 16, 2022: During the week of December 12, 2022, Northwest Cascade continued to backfill around the storm water treatment vault as material arrives onsite. The second crew continued to place the 48” Duramaxx pipe heading south from N 15th to N 14th.


December 9, 2022: During the week of December 5, 2022, Northwest Cascade was able to connect the 24” storm main on N 16th St, just west of the gulch, to the newly placed storm manhole at the top of the Gulch. This has allowed Northwest to remove the bypass pump on N 16th St. Northwest continues to backfill around the storm water treatment vault as material arrives onsite. The second crew continued to place the 48” Duramaxx pipe heading south from N 15th to N 14th.


December 2, 2022: During the week of November 28, 2022, Northwest Cascade’s first crew was able to install the stormwater manhole on the west side of the gulch near N 16th St and abandon the failing storm manhole at the top of the Gulch. The second crew continued to place the 48” Duramaxx pipe heading south from N 15th to N 14th. Due to the inclement weather, Northwest Cascade was not able to connect the 24” storm main on N 16th St to the recently placed stormwater manhole at the top of the gulch.


November 22, 2022: During the week of November 21, 2022, Northwest Cascade continued to back fill the Storm Water Filtration Facility excavation as materials arrive onsite. Northwest Cascade is now out of the Gulch, and has placed erosion control devices to protect the gulch until restoration work can begin. Northwest also began setting the 48” Duramaxx beginning at N 15th St, heading south on N Junett. Northwest will be out of the intersection of N 15th and N Junett by end of day Wednesday, November 23. No work will happen over the holiday weekend.   

 

November 18, 2022: During the week of November 14, 2022, Northwest Cascade finished installing the Stormwater pipe and Wastewater pipe from the bottom of the Gulch to the top of the Gulch. Northwest has brought a second crew in to continue work in the Stormwater Treatment Facility excavation, then will begin laying the 48” black pipe currently being stored in front of 1414 N Junett St. The contractor is again intending to take advantage of the fair weather and will be working Saturday, November 19.  

 

November 10, 2022: During the week of November 7, 2022, Northwest Cascade installed a 72” storm manhole at the intersection of N 14th & N Junett. This structure has allowed Northwest Cascade to shift the stormwater bypass that was previously located at N 13th and N Junett back to N 14th St & N Junett. N 13th St & N Junett is now open for traffic. Northwest has additionally set up the wastewater bypass in the gulch. This will allow Northwest to begin installing the 42” storm pipe down into the gulch, tying into the manhole set at the bottom of the gulch last week. Northwest will be taking advantage of the fair weather and working this Saturday. By end of day Saturday, Northwest intends to have the 42” storm main heading in the gulch set in place and partially backfilled.

 

November 4, 2022: During the week of October 31, 2022, Northwest Cascade installed the downstream most stormwater manhole in the Gulch. Efforts were focused this week on increasing capacity of the stormwater bypass system by upsizing the pumps at the intersection of N 13th St and N Junett St as well as the discharge line heading north along N Junett. This requires the continued short-term closure of N 13th & N Junett. 

 

October 28, 2022: During the week of October 24, 2022, Northwest Cascade finished clearing the work area necessary to complete the utility realignment within the gulch and began fusing pipe to prepare for installation. Due to two flooding incidents, the Contractor began working to increase the capacity of the temporary stormwater bypass. There are several constraints, which are complicating this work, and we foresee ongoing efforts associated with the temporary stormwater bypass over the next several weeks.


October 21, 2022: During the week of October 17, 2022 Northwest Cascade halted backfilling activities on the stormwater treatment vault in front of the community garden due to manufacturing delays. This is expected to be a temporary pause as the contractor waits for additional concrete access rings to stack on the structures within the shoring limits. Once this is completed the contractor would then continue backfilling soil and removing shoring around the vault.


The contractor has now turned their focus to the stormwater connection within the gulch itself. This week the contractor began clearing the work area and started excavating a temporary access road down the slope. The contractor is also working on setting up erosion control devices to protect the exposed soil in advance of incoming rain.

 

October 14, 2022: During the week of October 10, 2022 Northwest Cascade continued to backfill around the stormwater treatment vault in front of the community garden. The contractor began stacking some sections of access rings ontop of the stormwater structures adjacent to the vault.

 

October 7, 2022: During the week of October 3, 2022, Northwest Cascade continued backfilling soil around the stormwater treatment vault in front of the community garden. The contractor additionally started to remove sections of the shoring surrounding the pit for the treatment vault.

 

September 30, 2022

During the week of September 26, 2022, Northwest Cascade finished installing storm water structures directly around the treatment vault in front of the community garden. The contractor has begun backfilling soil around the vault and has continued installation of the pipes and fixtures within the vault itself. The contractor has additionally completed installation of the wet weather bypass for the storm system.

 

September 23, 2022 

During the week of September 19, Northwest Cascade completed the concrete pours for the storm water filtration vault. Once the structure has reached proper strength, Northwest will begin backfilling around the structure. Access risers still need to be constructed, and the pit will likely not be completely filled until this work is complete. Northwest Cascade is also currently installing the temporary stormwater bypass system. The City has received the approved plan set for the storm water emergency work and given the plans to the contractor. Finally, the City is finalizing survey activities on residences in the vicinity of the storm water reroute into the gulch.

 

 

Project Overview  

The Upper Buckley project is first and foremost a storm main replacement project, replacing aging and failing storm drainage infrastructure running underneath private property in order to facilitate ongoing utility service for the N. Junett Street neighborhood. The project extends along N. Junett Street, between N. 14th Street and N. 16th Street, and along N. 16th Street, between Buckley Gulch and N Pine Street.

The project will realign the existing storm sewer system by safely abandoning pipe locations that existed under private properties and replacing them with pipe in the public right of way. Part of this relocation requires a realignment of the storm and sewer mains extending into the northern extent of the Buckley Gulch. This will involve excavating down into the gulch to install new pipes down the slope and will include vegetation removal within the gulch as the contractor trenches past the bottom of the slope. Mitigation plantings consisting of native trees and shrubs will be reestablished at the conclusion of the project and will continue to be monitored post construction.

The Contractor will be asked to minimize disturbance to the green space as much as possible while still maintaining a safe work zone. Through consultation with the City’s Geotechnical consultant, disruption to the slope will be restored to a condition very close to existing. New soils with better structural characteristics will be imported to replace loose fill soils excavated from the gulch.

 

As part of the project, a cost savings opportunity to partner with the Department of Ecology was utilized in order to realize a significant reduction in material and construction costs, when compared to constructing two separate projects, by additionally constructing a regional stormwater treatment facility that will treat approximately 340 acres of the 484 acre sub-basin.

Development activities within the North Tacoma Watershed have been identified as a significant source of increased flows, excessive sediment load, and gravel scouring within the watershed and, therefore, within the Puget Sound. The goal of the Upper Buckley regional treatment facility is to help protect and restore water quality by reducing stormwater impacts from existing infrastructure and development.

Road and landscape restoration in accordance with the City of Tacoma’s Right-of-Way restoration policy will also be included as part of this project. This will include replaced concrete pavement along N Junett Street, between N 14th Street and N 15th Street, and replaced asphalt pavement along N Junett Street, between N 15th Street and N 16th Street, as well as along N 16th Street, between N Junett Street and N Pine Street.

 

Right of Way Improvements

ADA curb ramps will be replaced, or newly installed, at all intersections within the project extent and new street trees will be added, predominantly along N Junett Street. Restoration of areas in front of the adjacent Junett Community Garden and community pathway connecting N 16th Street, adjacent the Buckley gulch, will include an extensive list of native trees, shrubs and groundcover vegetation.

 

Upper Buckley Schematic Plan

 

 

Project Schedule

Contract Awarded to Northwest Cascade – March 2022
Construction Started – May 2022
Estimated Construction End – Summer 2023

 

Public Outreach

Public meeting to address project updates:

Friday, September 16, 2022, at 6 PM
Center for Urban Waters, 326 East D Street, Tacoma, WA 98421

To view answers from the 09/16/22 Public Meeting.

 

Contact Information

City of Tacoma Environmental Services

Project Manager - Kirk Myklestad

kmyklestad@cityoftacoma.org

 

Construction Manager – Andrew Stark

astark@cityoftacoma.org



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