Coupeville Approves Major Utility and Safety Upgrades for Sixth Street

Coupeville moved forward on long deferred infrastructure repairs when the town council approved a work order on December 9 to replace aging water and sewer lines along Sixth Street. The work order initiates replacement of an existing water main from Perkins Street to Kinney Street, and an existing sewer main from Gould Street to Kinney Street, with the town estimating the project will not exceed $148,444.

Town officials said many of the pipe segments were likely installed in 1929 and extended in the 1940s. Public works director Joe Grogan told the council the water line’s connections to saddle taps are failing and the undersized concrete sewer line has infiltration issues, conditions that have driven the need for replacement and reduced system reliability. A storm water catch basin and related piping will be added roughly 200 feet east of Gould Street to address drainage concerns.

The approved work also includes a new pedestrian and bicycle path along Sixth Street from Haller Street to Faris Street, a visible safety improvement for a corridor used by residents and school routes. Mayor Molly Hughes called the effort a “large job” and noted the town has been saving for the work for years. Construction dates remain undetermined, though Grogan said at the council meeting he is “hopeful” to complete the project in the spring of 2026.

Town staff said homes with service connections disturbed by construction will be re established along the route, and the town will ask the contractor to minimize outages by building the new lines adjacent to the mains to be abandoned. Residents should expect notifications about planned outages and traffic adjustments once a contractor schedule is set.

For Island County residents, the project aims to reduce emergency disruptions, limit sewer infiltration into the system, and provide safer, active transportation infrastructure. The council action represents a concrete investment in aging local utilities and in walk and bike safety, with fiscal restraint reflected in the project cap and multi year savings approach.