Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facility Project timeline

By Oliver Lazenby

A long-awaited project that will have a big impact on Birch Bay is scheduled to start later this year. The $11.5 million Birch Bay Drive and Pedestrian Facilities Project, often called the berm, will restore the beach in a 1.58-mile section of Birch Bay with a sand and gravel berm that mimics a natural beach and should protect the area from flooding.

The project also calls for a walkway, bike lanes and other pedestrian improvements to the road, which is popular with walkers and bicyclists. People involved with the project say it will be one of the largest beach restoration projects in the state, and it’s been in the works for for more than 40 years.