POULSBO — Even though a settlement has been reached on the Bond Road Pump Station appeal, the adjoining State Route 305 force main remains on hold because of concerns from the Washington State Department of Ecology.

“We’ve already given up on being in front of them,” City Engineer Andrzej Kasiniak said of the SR 305 widening project, which is scheduled to begin this summer. “As soon as DOE gives me the green light, it’s a go.”

Construction of the force main, which will run along the highway from Bond Road to the central interceptor south of the city limits, will take about 60 days, Kasiniak said.

“We have a special provision, and there will be some coordination between the two contractors,” he said.

Work on the pump station is not as critical as it is outside of the widening project’s construction zone, he said.

During the installation of the force main, there will be some nightly intersection closures, but the public will be notified in advance, Kasiniak said.

However, one of the few remaining unknowns for the project is the actual price tag, he said.

“Hopefully, we won’t be scrambling for more money after the bids are opened,” he said, noting that the bids will be opened June 1.

Another issue affecting the project is the installation of culverts, which must be done during the salmon window.

“The culverts are the first thing they have to get done,” Kasiniak said.

Everything remains on track for the widening project as it went out to bid on time. More will be known once the bids are opened, said WSDOT representative Michele Britton.

“As long as we don’t get a big shock when the bids are opened, we should get out there and make our fish window,” Britton said.

Gas prices could also weigh in on the cost, but right now there is enough money to pay for the project, she said.

The state is aware of the force main installation and there are some places where the two projects could conflict, she said.

“We would like them to get it done before we start,” Britton said, adding that if that doesn’t happen, the state and city will continue working together to resolve the issue.