Photo courtesy of Perteet Oak Harbor’s $8.3 million upgrade of Pioneer Way is seeking certification from Greenroads, a sustainability rating system for roadway design and construction.

Oak Harbor, named for the Garry oak trees that line its streets, is Whidbey Island’s largest city. The city’s history goes back to the early 1850s, reflected in its historic downtown corridor, Pioneer Way.

Over the years, however, Pioneer Way deteriorated and needed major upgrades.

The city hired Perteet to do a “green overhaul” of Pioneer Way. The plan was to improve the roadway, relocate utilities, upgrade the storm drainage and sewer systems, and improve pedestrian access — all the while ensuring an environmentally sound finished product.

The first step in paving was to pulverize the old asphalt and recycle it as base material for the new road, which was built with a design life of 40 years instead of 20. The pavement used a warm-mix asphalt, which allows asphalt-mixing temperatures to be reduced by at least 50 degrees, saving energy and lowering emissions during paving operations.

New low-impact stormwater treatment vaults enhance the water quality of 95 percent of the roadway runoff, saving the city more than $300,000 in end-of-pipe treatment drains. Decorative LED lighting has reduced electrical consumption by 39 percent and requires little to no ongoing maintenance.

Perteet also designed an electric-vehicle charging station that can be expanded when demand increases.

The $8.3 million project, completed ahead of schedule and under budget, is the one of the first applicants to seek certification from Greenroads, a sustainability rating system for roadway design and construction.