Twisp civic building’s exterior work continues
Glover Street in Twisp is temporarily closed at its intersection with Third Avenue to accommodate street and sidewalk improvements, and construction of a public plaza, associated with completion of the new civic building and regional communications center.
The closure began last week and will continue through Nov. 2. Glover Street traffic will be blocked at Third Avenue, and a small portion of Third Avenue will also be blocked off, requiring drivers to use adjacent streets to detour around the closure.
Street access is open to the post office and The Cove south of the closure, and to businesses north of the closure. Pedestrian access is available on the west side of Glover Street, but closed on the east side of the street.
Although the exterior work has delayed the town’s plans to move staff into the new facility, the building will be occupied as planned on Sept. 30, with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Oct. 7. Public Works Director Andrew Denham said in an email that the street, sidewalk and plaza project work is phased in two segments that will allow the new building to open in September as planned. “The road will remain closed until the intersection work has been completed in late October, or early November,” Denham said.
The town had hoped to begin the move after an inspection on July 20, with an anticipated move-in date of Aug. 1. But after the July 20 inspection, concerns were raised about safe, convenient access to the new building while construction continued all around it. While the building’s interior is essentially ready for occupancy, the plaza, landscaping and other street and sidewalk improvements around the building are not completed.
The town’s temporary offices on East Second Avenue will remain open for business until the new building is occupied. Denham said earlier that the town will be able to move some files, equipment and furniture into the building while construction continues.
Construction on the new building, which has been in the works for more than 10 years, began last year. It is built on the site of the old town hall, which was demolished.
